title: Mid-facial fractures: a 5-year retrospective review in a Nigerian teaching hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to establish the pattern and actiology of mid-facial fractures, of patients seen and treated at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria over a 5-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of midfacial fractures diagnosed and treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos between January 2004 and December 2008 were reviewed. Data collected from case records of patients included age, sex, aetiology of fracture, anatomic site of fracture, associated maxillofacial fracture, types of treatment and postoperative complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The leading cause of mid-facial fractures was road traffic crashes (RTC) which occurred in 93% of highest incidence of mid-facial fractures (36.5%) occurred in the age group of 21-30 years and the lowest in the age group of 60 years and above (2.6%); with male preponderance in nearly all age groups. Female patients were significantly younger than their male counterparts (P=0.000). The most common site of mid-facial bone fractures was the zygomatic complex (n=89, 44.5%), followed by dento-alveolar (n=26, 13%), and Le fort II (n=23, 12%). Conservative management of the fractures was employed in 2.6% (n=4) of the cases while 97.4% (n=152) of the patients required surgical, intervention
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mid-facial fractures were most common in the 3rd decade of life; with a male-to-female ratio of 3.7: 1. Over 93% of the cases were due to road traffic crashes. Zygomatic complex was the most commonly fractured site. The fact that road traffic crashes still remain the major cause of mid-facial fracture in the studied environment is an indication that the enforcement of legislation to prevent road traffic crashes needs to be re-emphasised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria. lanreadeyemo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Adeyemo
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Taiwo
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ladeinde
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Ogunlewe
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adepoju
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy