Citation

Luce EA, Hollier LH, Lin SJ. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 2013; 132(5): 1330-1339.

Affiliation

Memphis, Tenn.; Houston, Texas; and Boston, Mass. From the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Baylor College of Medicine; and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182a7094c

PMID

24165614

Abstract

The fiftieth anniversary of the death by assassination of President John Kennedy is an opportunity to pay homage to his memory and also reflect on the important role plastic surgeons have played in the management of trauma. That reflection included a hypothetical scenario, a discussion of the surgical treatment of Kennedy (if he survived) and Governor Connally. The scenario describes the management of cranioplasty in the presence of scalp soft-tissue contracture, reconstruction of the proximal trachea, reconstitution of the abdominal wall, and restoration of a combined radius and soft-tissue defect. The development of diagnostic and therapeutic advances over the past 50 years in the care of maxillofacial trauma is described, including the evolution of imaging, timing of surgery, and operative techniques. Finally, contemporary measures of triage in situations involving mass casualties, as in the Boston Marathon bombings, complete the dedication to President Kennedy.

Language: en