A prospective study on elderly patients with facial fractures in a developing country.
BACKGROUND
This paper describes the incidence, aetiology, treatment and complications of facial fractures seen among the elderly in a developing country.


METHODS
A prospective study evaluated 85 patients over 60 years of age who were diagnosed with facial fractures over a period of 12 months in 23 public hospitals nationwide.


RESULTS
The elderly accounted for 4.5% of the total number of patients seen with facial fractures during the study period. Elderly men outnumbered women by a ratio of 4.31:1. Of the elderly patients, 35.3% had at least one medical condition, the commonest of which was hypertension. Road traffic accidents were the main cause of injury. The fractures were treated in only 26.2% of cases. Complications were uncommon.


CONCLUSIONS
With a low incidence, and conservative treatment often being practised, the healthcare burden of treating facial fractures among the elderly in Malaysia is at present still low.
Royan
Stephen Joseph
SJ
Department of Oral Surgery, Melaka Hospital, Melaka, Malaysia. sjroyan@hotmail.com
Hamid
Abdul Latif
AL
Kovilpillai
Ferdinand Jesudian
FJ
Junid
Nooral Zeila
NZ
Mustafa
Wan Mahadzir Wan
WM
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data