title: Demographical and clinical aspects of sports-related maxillofacial and skull base fractures in hospitalized patients.
abstract: As many as 30% of all maxillofacial fractures (MFFs) and skull base fractures (SBFs) are reported to be sports-related. Participation in sporting activities has grown worldwide and the number of cases of sports-related injuries has also increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the data of 3596 patients hospitalized by MFF or SBF over a 6-year period; 147 (4%) of these cases were sports-related (mean age 29.7±12.8 years). The highest incidence was found in patients aged 20-29 years (35%), and the fractures resulted mostly from ball sports (74%), especially soccer (59%) and handball (8%). The injuries involved different areas, with a significant prevalence of the midface complex (67%) compared with the mandible region (29%) and the skull base (4%). The commonest diagnoses associated with MFF and SBF were brain concussion (19%), laceration of the skin and soft tissue (16%), and dental injury (8%). Surgery was required for 88% of midface fractures. In cases of mandible fractures 52% were supplied with osteosynthesis. This study identified the significant number of severe sports-related injuries that occur each year, suggesting that changes of rules and safety standards are needed for the prevention of such injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center Hospital, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elhammali
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bremerich
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rustemeyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019291:Skull Base / Q000293:injuries*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult