title: Pattern of maxillofacial fractures at a tertiary hospital in northern India: a 4-year retrospective study of 718 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pattern and aetiology of maxillofacial injuries varies from one country to another and even within the same country depending on prevailing socio-economic, cultural and environmental factors. Various studies have been carried out in various countries to study the epidemiology and demographics of the maxillofacial injuries but the studies from India are few.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study was undertaken at Christian Medical College Ludhiana (India) from January 2006 to December 2009. Treatment records of the patients was checked and age, gender, aetiology of injury, associated injuries, maxillofacial fractures and treatment offered were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1075 fractures were recorded in 718 patients, ranging from 11 months to 85 years of age. Male:female ratio was 6.6:1. Maxillofacial injuries were most common in third decade of life. A total of 517 patients suffered injuries because of road traffic accident, 115 because of accidental fall and 67 because of interpersonal violence. A total of 184 patients had 221 associated injuries of which 56.1% head injuries, 29.0% orthopaedic injuries and 14.9% other injuries were present. Of 596 middle third fractures, 29.8% were managed conservatively; for 21.7% and 48.7% of fractures, closed reduction and open reduction were performed respectively. Of 479 mandibular fractures, 1.8% was managed conservatively; for 16.7% and 81.5% fractures, closed reduction and open reduction were performed respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better socio-economic status of people, increased vehicular movements and non-implementation of road safety norms have increased road traffic accidents. Proper education of the people who are most commonly involved in the RTA can be one of the possible ways to reduce the maxillofacial injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Christian Dental College, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. sumirgandhi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sumir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: Laxman Kumar
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solanki
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Inderjot
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Saurab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bither
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D009666:Nose / Q000293:injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy