Elderly patients with facial trauma: a 10 year review

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the epidemiological profile of geriatric patients with facial trauma treated at a Maxillofacial Surgery Department in southern Brazil over a period of 10 years. Methods: a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients aged over 60 years treated for facial trauma in the period from January 2001 to December 2010 was performed. Result: of a total of 1,385 analyzed medical records of patients with facial trauma, 86 (6.2%) belonged to the group aged 60-89 years. The male gender was the most affected and the age group 60-69 years was the most frequently involved. The middle third was the most affected, and the zygomatic bone was the most commonly fractured. Conclusion: special attention should be given to the 60-69 age group, as while such patients present physiological changes inherent to aging, they remain active in society and exposed to risk factors for facial trauma.

Mandibular Bone Fractures in elderly patients with reference to etiology of trauma

“…In a study on elderly population road traffic accidents were most common cause of injury in population with age range 60-69 years, while in patients older than 70 falls were the most common cause of injury. 12 These findings are in contrast to another study where predominant cause of injury in older population were falls and more than 50% of the fractures were caused by falls, followed by RTA; industrial injuries and assault related injuries rarely occurred. 16 According to another study conducted in Australia the predominant cause of facial injuries in older population was falls.…”

“…8 Among all mechanisms of injury males are more commonly affected by trauma. 12 The present study also shows a male predominance as 67.5% of the patients were males. These results are in consistent with a study that was conducted in a Malaysian Hospital on total 134 patients who were 60 years of age or older were, there were 101 (74.5%) men and 33(24.6 %) women.…”

“…1 This male predominance is due to the fact that males are mainly involved in outdoor activities thus more exposed to different mechanisms of injury, while females are engaged in indoor activities. 12 Zerken et al and Ramos Chrcanovic also described the same male predominance in their studies. 7,13 These results are in contrast to another study that was conducted in Finland, the study comprised total 117 patients who were 65 years of age or older than this.…”

A multicentric prospective analysis of maxillofacial trauma in the elderly population

“…19,24,27,33 In addition, for any particular type of fall, skeletal injuries tend to have greater consequences in older patients than in younger patients. 23,25 Reductions in bone mass linked to osteoporosis or other changes in bone metabolism increase the susceptibility to fractures in the elderly, including the maxillofacial area.…”

“…12 With this trend in the global elderly population, traumatic injuries in this group will also increase, including those affecting the maxillofacial area, with a heavier load on health systems. Although there have been epidemiologic studies on maxillofacial fractures in the elderly population among Asian, [13][14][15][16][17][18] African, 19 American, [20][21][22][23][24] Australian 25 and European [26][27][28][29][30] patients, these studies are infrequent, often monocentric and retrospective. Notably, Possebon et al 24 reported that an epidemiological understanding of maxillofacial trauma is necessary to improve the management of ageing populations, to prevent accidents, to enhance the quality of life and to reduce public spending on the treatment of such trauma.…”