title: Seven-year institutional experience in the surgical treatment of orbito-zygomatic fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facial trauma is a common injury in the urban setting. Many studies have been published on the epidemiology of facial fractures, but few of them conducted in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of patients treated for orbito-zygomatic fractures at our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 141 patients with orbito-zygomatic complex fractures who underwent surgical treatment between May 2001 and May 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The population studied consisted mostly of males (86.5% of patients), with a male:female ratio of 6.4:1. A marked predominance of patients aged 21-30 years was observed (34.3%). Traffic-related causes were the most common, with motorcycle accidents as the most frequent aetiology (24.8% of patients), followed by car accidents (19.2%) and interpersonal violence (15.2%). Associated injuries accounted for 88 lesions in 65 patients, and their occurrence was statistically associated with traffic-related causes. All patients enrolled in the study were managed with operative treatment. The most utilized method for treatment was internal fixation with miniplates and screws (83.7% of the cases). The complication rate was 24.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orbito-zygomatic fractures can cause significant morbidity and impairment in patients' quality of life. Despite recent improvements in legislation and educational campaigns, traffic remains the main cause of these injuries. More intensive efforts should be made in order to reduce its impact in the aetiology of facial trauma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Campinas State University-Unicamp Medical Center, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Cidade Universitária ZeferinoVaz CEP: 13083-887, Cx. Postal: 6111 Campinas, SP, Brazil. davicalderoni@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Davi Reis
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Calderoni
authors.forename: Marcelo de Campos
authors.initials: Mde C
authors.lastname: Guidi
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kharmandayan
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Facchina
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery