title: Epidemiology of facial trauma in a sample of patients aged 1-18 years.
abstract: This study reviews the epidemiology of patients aged 1-18 years treated for maxillofacial injuries during a 3 year period at a tertiary care centre. Of the 276 patients, 65.5% were aged 1-10 years. Seventy-three per cent of injuries were to the soft tissues and 15% of injuries were fractures. The mandible and zygoma were the most commonly fractured facial bones. In the adolescent group, facial fractures accounted for over half of all injuries. Injuries of 96.8% were classed as minor to moderate. Falls were by far, the commonest cause of injury, but with increasing age, assaults became more common. A surprisingly high incidence of dog bite injuries was noted, particularly in children under 7 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Health Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Zarina S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Worrall
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014754:Violence