J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2015 Dec;41(6):306-316. 10.5125/jkaoms.2015.41.6.306.

Fracture patterns in the maxillofacial region: a four-year retrospective study

• Park KP
• Lim SU
• Kim JH
• Chun WB
• Shin DW
• Kim JY
• Lee H

• KMID: 2133177
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2015.41.6.306

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The facial bones are the most noticeable area in the human body, and facial injuries can cause significant functional, aesthetic, and psychological complications. Continuous study of the patterns of facial bone fractures and changes in trends is helpful in the prevention and treatment of maxillofacial fractures. The purpose of the current clinico-statistical study is to investigate the pattern of facial fractures over a 4-year period.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 1,824 fracture sites was carried out in 1,284 patients admitted to SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center for facial bone fracture from January 2010 to December 2013. We evaluated the distributions of age/gender/season, fracture site, cause of injury, duration from injury to treatment, hospitalization period, and postoperative complications.
RESULTS
The ratio of men to women was 3.2:1. Most fractures occurred in individuals aged between teens to 40s and were most prevalent at the middle and end of the month. Fractures occurred in the nasal bone (65.0%), orbital wall (29.2%), maxillary wall (15.3%), zygomatic arch (13.2%), zygomaticomaxillary complex (9.8%), mandibular symphysis (6.5%), mandibular angle (5.9%), mandibular condyle (4.9%), and mandibular body (1.9%). The most common etiologies were fall (32.5%) and assault (26.0%). The average duration of injury to treatment was 6 days, and the average hospitalization period was 5 days. Eighteen postoperative complications were observed in 17 patients, mainly infection and malocclusion in the mandible.
CONCLUSION
This study reflects the tendency for trauma in the Seoul metropolitan region because it analyzes all facial fracture patients who visited our hospital regardless of the specific department. Distinctively, in this study, midfacial fractures had a much higher incidence than mandible fractures.

Keyword

Maxillofacial injuries; Facial bones; Fractures; Bone; Retrospective studies

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Facial Bones
Facial Injuries
Female
Hospitalization
Human Body
Humans
Incidence
Male
Malocclusion
Mandible
Mandibular Condyle
Maxillofacial Injuries
Nasal Bone
Orbit
Postoperative Complications
Retrospective Studies*
Seoul
Zygoma

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Sex and age distribution of maxillofacial fracture patients.

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  Fig. 2 Seasonal distribution. A. Annual incidence of maxillofacial fracture patients. B. Monthly incidence of maxillofacial fracture patients. C. Intra-monthly distribution of maxillofacial fracture patients. D. Mean patient number of each period of a month. *Statistical significance, P<0.05.

• 

  Fig. 3 Fracture area distribution. A. Site distribution of maxillofacial fractures in each site. B. Site distribution of maxillofacial fracture patients in midfacial and mandibular region. C. Left and right distribution of midfacial fracture. D. Left and right distribution of mandibular fracture. E. Percentage of single and multiple site fracture. (ZMC: zygomaticomaxillary complex, Symphysis: mandibular symphysis, Body: mandibular body, Angle: mandibular angle, Condyle: mandibular condyle)

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  Fig. 4 Cause distribution. A. Cause of injury. B. Cause of injury according to the age group. C. Percentage of alcohol intoxication in each cause according to the age group. D. Cause of injury according to the fracture site. (TA: traffic accident, Others: hit by something or person unintentionally, ZMC: zygomaticomaxillary complex, Symphysis: mandibular symphysis, Body: mandibular body, Angle: mandibular angle, Condyle: mandibular condyle)

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  Fig. 5 Time lapse. A. Time from injury to treatment. B. Hospitalization period.

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