title: Fractures of the mandible in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pattern of occurrence of mandibular fractures in a paediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy two paediatric patients seen and managed between 1989 and 1998.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Road traffic accidents were the most common (52.8%) cause of mandibular fractures. The majority of the patients (57.0%) were within the age group (12-16 years). The body of the mandible was involved in 43.4% of the fractures. Eyelet wires with intermaxillary fixation was used in 41.7% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to enforce legislation aimed at preventing road traffic accidents to reduce maxillofacial injuries among children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine University College Hospital, lbadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Fasola
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Obiechina
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arotiba
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies