Maxillofacial injuries in a group of South Africans under 18 years of age.
OBJECTIVE
To find out the incidence of maxillofacial injuries in South African children aged 18 years or less.


METHODS
Retrospective study of casenotes.


METHODS
Six teaching hospitals affiliated to the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, serving a population of about 5 million people.


METHODS
All 326 children treated for facial injuries in the maxillofacial and oral departments of the six hospitals between 1 January 1989 and 30 June 1992.


METHODS
Classification of the types of injury, associated injuries, cause of the injury, and methods of diagnosis.


RESULTS
Of the total of 4192 patients of all ages treated for facial injuries, 326 (8%) were within the age range of the study. The female:male ratio was 1:2.3. Most of the injuries (227, 70%) occurred in the 13-18 age group, and assaults, fights and gunshot wounds accounted for 155 injuries (48%). Of the 326 children, 173 (53%) had single injuries and 153 (47%) had multiple injuries. Mandibular fractures were the most common (64%) followed by maxillomandibular fractures (25%). Violence was the most common cause of injury, as in the USA and Zimbabwe, but unlike the rest of the world in which it is motor vehicle accidents. Soft tissue injuries were the most common associated injuries, and conventional plain radiography was the usual investigation.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of 8% compares favourably with those in other countries, but far too many injuries are the result of violence.
Bamjee
Y
Y
Division of Maxillo-Facial and Oral Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Dental Research Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lownie
J F
JF
Cleaton-Jones
P E
PE
Lownie
M A
MA
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology