Jaw fractures in the indigenous and non-indigenous populations of Western Australia: 1999-2003.
Little data exist on the analysis of jaw fractures in Australia, and none in Western Australia. This study was a retrospective analysis of all hospitalizations for jaw fractures in Western Australia between the years 1999-2000 and 2002-2003. The aims were to determine the incidence, distribution between males and females, different age groups, aboriginal and non-aboriginal groups, and rural and urban populations. The economic impact of jaw fracture hospitalizations was also determined. Males were more likely (80.4%) than females to be admitted for a jaw fracture. Fractures of the mandible were more common (61.9%) than maxillary fractures (38.1%). Aboriginal persons had nearly 10 times more hospitalization rate than that of non-aboriginal persons. Fracture rates were significantly (P<0.05) higher in rural (61.9 per 100,000) than in urban areas. Over the 4-year study period the total costs for all jaw fracture hospitalizations exceeded US$ 7.6 million. This study clearly indicates the burden of jaw fractures on the Western Australian population, in terms of physical and economic impact.
Kruger
E
E
The Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. ekruger@crroh.uwa.edu.au
Smith
K
K
Tennant
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007572:Jaw Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D012744:Sex Ratio; D014505:Urban Population; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data