title: Mandibular fractures in Jordanians: a comparative study between young and adult patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are very few reports directly comparing mandibular fractures between young and adult patients in Middle Eastern countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review and compare the frequency and aetiology of mandibular fractures in young and adult Jordanian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was made of patients' records and radiographs seen at two university-based maxillofacial units during a 10-year period between 1993 and 2002. Age, gender, aetiology, and site were analysed and compared between young and adult patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 703 patients (502 (71%) male and 201 (29%) female) were found with 892 mandibular fractures altogether. There were 497 (71%) adults with 676 fractures, and 206 (29%) young patients with 216 fractures. The mean age of the adults was 30 years with a male-to-female ratio of 2.5:1. The mean age of the young patients was 13 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1. The most common fracture site in adult patients was the mandibular body, whereas the condyle predominated in young patients. The most common causative factor in adults was road traffic accidents, and falls in the young.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a similar gender distribution in both groups of Jordanian young and adult patients. However, there were differences regarding aetiology and site of fracture. The differences found in this study between adult and young patients are similar to those from other countries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan. mans1967@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mansour A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Qudah
authors.forename: Taiseer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Al-Khateeb
authors.forename: Anwar B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bataineh
authors.forename: Ma'amon A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rawashdeh
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012744:Sex Ratio