title: Differences in the location and multiplicity of mandibular fractures in Kuwait, Canada and Finland during the 1990s.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the location and multiplicity of mandibular fractures in Kuwait, Canada and Finland during the 1990s.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from several hospitals in Kuwait (1991-2000), Toronto General Hospital in Canada (1995-2000) and Oulu University Hospital in Finland (1990-1999). The data were analyzed statistically using chi-square test, ANOVA, t test and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Condylar fractures were more common in Finnish patients (41%) than Canadian (35%) or Kuwaiti patients (21%). Condylar fractures caused by falls were about 3.4 times more common in Kuwait and Finland compared to Canada. In Finland the risk of road traffic accidents caused by condylar fracture was about 4 times higher than those caused by other etiologies. In Canada male gender was about 2 times higher for the condylar fracture than female gender. Female patients often had more multiple injuries than men in all three countries and multiple fractures were observed especially in traumas caused by falling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in location and multiplicity of mandibular fractures are due to differences in etiologies and demographic patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait. kyosti.oikarinen@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Kyosti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oikarinen
authors.forename: Lukman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thalib
authors.forename: George K B
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Sàndor
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schutz
authors.forename: Cameron M L
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Clokie
authors.forename: Slavek
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Safar
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meisami
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Perheentupa
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014754:Violence