Prevalence of maxillofacial injuries by motorized two wheeler road traffic accidents in Bangalore city.
BACKGROUND
Two wheeler users in India are the most vulnerable for road fatalities and two wheelers constitute the major portion of vehicular traffic.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of maxillofacial injuries among the victims of motorized two wheeler road traffic accidents in Bangalore city.


METHODS
Medical records of cases reported during January 2006-June 2007 to hospitals were considered and data regarding age, sex, date of trauma, rider or pillion rider, alcohol consumption, site of injury on the face and associated injuries to other parts of the body were recorded.


RESULTS
The prevalence of injuries among males and females was in the ratio of 3:1. Most of them were in the age group of 21-30 years. Most of the cases were recorded on Saturdays (17.4%) and in the months of August (9%) and September (9.7%) and the least number of cases were reported in January, March and June (2.1%) of 2007. The decrease in number of cases coincides with the implementation of the Helmet Rule in the city.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need to stress on the importance of usage of helmets and adherence to traffic rules during the high-risk periods to reduce the incidence of road traffic accidents and accompanying maxillofacial injuries.
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, MS Ramaiah Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Shwetha Kanyaloor
SK
Mallikarjuna
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, MS Ramaiah Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Pushpanjali
P
Krishnappa
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011891:Rain; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012744:Sex Ratio; D055815:Young Adult