Maxillofacial injuries in a group of Brazilian subjects under 18 years of age.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to perform a clinical retrospective analysis of the etiology, incidence and treatment of selected oral and maxillofacial injuries in Brazilian children and adolescents.


METHODS
This study was conducted during a 14-year period between 1986 and 2000. All patients were admitted to Hospital XV in the city of Curitiba, State of Paraná. Age, gender, monthly distribution, etiology, soft injuries, associated injuries, site of fractures and methods of treatment were reviewed.


RESULTS
Of the total of 350 patients of all ages treated for facial injuries, 29.42% were within the age range of the study (0 to 18 years). Mean age was 10.61. Of the patients, 63.1% were male. The most common cause of injury was accidental falls (37.87%), followed by bicycle and motorcycle accidents (21.36%). Of the 103 patients, 88.34% had single injuries. Mandibular fractures were the most common and the condylar region was particularly affected.


CONCLUSIONS
Facial trauma is a relatively common occurrence in children. The study indicates that fractures in children and adolescents differ quite considerably from an adult population.
Scariot
Rafaela
R
Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. rafaela_scariot@yahoo.com.br
de Oliveira
Ingrid Araújo
IA
Passeri
Luis Augusto
LA
Rebellato
Nelson Luis Barbosa
NL
Müller
Paulo Roberto
PR
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007572:Jaw Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000293:injuries; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy