Through the ages—Aetiological changes in maxillofacial trauma

Abstract

Aims The number of patients suffering maxillofacial trauma remains constant although the affected patients become older. The aim of this study was to illuminate the patterns of maxillofacial fractures in a University Medical Centre and to analyse potential changes in patient population and treatment methods during a 5‐year period. Materials and methods In a retrospective analysis, the records of 573 patients with maxillofacial fractures treated in a level one trauma centre from January 2010 to December 2014 were analysed with regard to gender, age, date and time of hospitalization as well as discharge, aetiology, type of fracture, surgery details, complications and further injuries. Causes were subdivided into assaults, falls, epileptic seizure, work‐related, traffic accident by car or bicycle, sport‐associated or others (eg caused by explosions, horse kicks or unknown). Results The most common causes for fractures were assaults (28.8%; n = 165), followed by falls (23.9%; n = 137), although falls became the main reason for maxillofacial fractures in 2013 and 2014. The mean age for patients suffering from facial fractures due to falls was significantly higher compared to those injured by other causes. Most commonly, fractures of the zygomatico‐maxillary complex with or without orbital floor involvement were seen (31.6%; n = 291) followed by fractures of the mandible (20.6%; n = 190) and fractures of the nose (15.2%; n = 140). Most patients were treated surgically (89.5%; n = 513) even though an increase in non‐surgical treatment was found over the examination period, especially in older patients. Conclusions Maxillofacial fractures are mostly seen in younger male patients. Assaults were the main pattern of injury during the whole examination period, although falls became the main cause in older patients over the last 2 years.

Role of environmental and occupational factors in fall‐related maxillofacial fractures

“…Fabio Roccia and Paolo Boffano carried out a study and found that among 132 patients, 15 patients had fall on the same level and 24 had fall from one level to another. In work‐related injuries, mandible fractures were most common (Goedecke & Thiem, 2019 ; Roccia et al, 2013 ) 26This is consistent with The current study as well. The second most common etiological factor of falls in the current study; occupational falls, resulted mostly in mandibular fractures.…”

“…had fall from one level to another. In work-related injuries, mandible fractures were most common (Goedecke & Thiem, 2019;Roccia et al, 2013) • Environmental and occupational factors are most common etiologies of falls.…”

Analysis of Factors Affecting Quality of Life in Patients Treated for Maxillofacial Fractures

“…Their causes and frequency vary from region to region [1][2][3][4], and result from the socio-economic status of patients, their education, and cultural and environmental factors, as well as alcohol consumption [5][6][7]. According to the World Health Organization, maxillofacial injuries are most frequently caused by road collisions, violence, or sports injuries [2,4,7]. These may result in injuries to the soft tissues of the face and mouth, the teeth, and fractures of the craniofacial bones [1,3,4].…”

Complex Maxillofacial Trauma with Wide-Spread Soft-Tissue Defects

“…The complex mаxillofаciаl trаumа with wide-spreаd soft-tissue defects hаs the potentiаl to cаuse disfigurement аnd loss of function; for exаmple, blindness or difficulty moving the jаw cаn result [1][2][3]. Furthermore, the complex mаxillofаciаl trаumа usuаlly connects closely to trаumаtic brаin injury, thorаcic trаumа аnd neаrby orgаns injury [2,4,5].…”