An epidemiologic analysis of 1,142 maxillofacial fractures and concomitant injuries.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and etiology of maxillofacial fractures in the Greek population over the past 5 years. A comparison of findings with 2 earlier studies from the same department was also performed.


METHODS
Seven hundred twenty-seven patients treated for a total of 1,142 facial fractures in the period from 2005 to 2009 were included in a retrospective, clinical, and epidemiologic study. Cause, type, site of injury, gender, age, and nationality of the patient were the parameters evaluated.


RESULTS
Road traffic accidents remained the most common cause of injury (50.8%) followed by assaults (26.3%), falls (13.8%), work-related injuries (3.2%), and sport injuries (3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Road traffic accidents remain the most frequent etiology of maxillofacial fractures. Fractures of the facial skeleton caused by assault increased significantly in the period assessed. Concomitant injuries were most frequently associated with motorcycle accidents.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, KAT General Hospital of Attica (formerly St. Paul's Accidents Hospital of Athens), Athens, Greece.
George
G
Kostakis
Panagiotis
P
Stathopoulos
Panagiotis
P
Dais
George
G
Gkinis
Demosthenes
D
Igoumenakis
Michael
M
Mezitis
George
G
Rallis
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; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data