title: Midfacial fractures in children and adolescents: a review of 492 cases.
abstract: We studied the records of children and adolescents admitted to our hospital with facial fractures between 1993 and 2002. During the 10-year period, 492 patients with 555 midfacial fractures were treated. Their ages ranged from 1 to 18 years, the peak incidence being between 16 and 18. Three-hundred and eighty (77%) were boys. The zygoma was the most commonly fractured bone (n = 286), and the hard palate the least commonly fractured (n = 6). Motor-vehicles were responsible for 272 (55%) of all fractures. Most fractures were treated by closed reduction, and only 139 (25%) were treated by observation. Complications, including unsatisfactory fracture repair and infection, were recorded in 18 (4%) and the overall mortality was 1% (n = 8).
authors.affiliation: Service of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hospital de São João, Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal. pedro.oferreira@mail.pt
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amarante
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D017278:Air Bags; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000209:etiology; D009666:Nose / Q000293:injuries; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010159:Palate / Q000293:injuries; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012622:Seat Belts; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy