Pattern of soft tissue injuries to the oro-facial region in Nigerian children attending a teaching hospital.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to determine the aetiological factors and pattern of oro-facial soft tissue injuries among children in a suburban Nigerian population. The problems encountered in the management of the patients are also highlighted.


METHODS
Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals' Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria.


METHODS
This prospective study was carried out in children aged < or = 15 years who presented with oro-facial soft tissue injuries between July 1996 and December 1997. Data was collected from a clinical examination of the child and a questionnaire completed by the parent or carer.


RESULTS
During the study period, 174 children were managed for oro-facial soft tissue injuries, an incidence of 1.1%, out of a total of 15 582 child admissions. A male preponderance was found (1 : 0.74). The mean age +/- SD was 7.3 +/- 4.2 years and the range was 9 months-15 years. Falls were the most common aetiology followed by road traffic accident. The forehead was the most frequently injured site. A mortality of 3.4% was found. Although animal bites and burns accounted for only 13.8% of all injuries, all the deaths were a result of these aetiologies. Road traffic accidents and burn victims had the longest hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
Although falls and road traffic accidents are frequent causes of oro-facial soft tissue injuries, less common causes, like burns and dog bites are more likely to result in death.
Oginni
F O
FO
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. aoginni@oauife.edu.ng
Fagade
O O
OO
Akinwande
J A
JA
Arole
G F
GF
Odusanya
S A
SA
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005546:Forehead / Q000293:injuries; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D009055:Mouth / Q000293:injuries*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*