title: Incidence, aetiology, treatment outcome and complications of maxillofacial fractures. A retrospective study from Northern Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the pattern of maxillofacial injuries and treatment outcomes in Northern Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary referral single centre hospital; retrospective chart review. Demographics, aetiology, fixation technique (Rigid Internal Fixation: RIF; Maxillomandibular Fixation: MMF) post-surgical infections, aesthetics and occlusion were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand and ten males and 229 females were operated between 1998 and 2008. Mean age was 29.6 ± 13. Mean number of plates per patient was 3.96 ± 2.28. For those with midfacial fractures (n = 379) mean was 4.02 ± 2.05. For those with mandibular fractures (n = 333), mean was 2.74 ± 0.94 while those with combined mandible and midface fractures (n = 216) were treated using 5.74 ± 2.87 plates per patient. Among those treated with plates, an unadjusted 22% increased risk for post-surgical infection per plate used (OR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.13-1.32) was found. Patients with mandibular fractures were more satisfied with their post-surgical facial appearance in contrast to those with midfacial or combined midfacial and mandibular fractures. Female patients were less satisfied with their post-surgical facial appearance than males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study verified a young males predominance, a shift towards more assault related fractures -especially in females- and similar post-surgical results for MMF and RIF modalities in mandibular fractures. In those patients treated with RIF, placement of fewest plates possible to obtain stability better serves aesthetics at the same time reducing risk for post-surgical infections and malocclusion.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Prof. Dr. Dr. Konstantinos Antoniades), Faculty of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: akyrgidi@gmail.com.
authors: Athanassios
authors: A
authors: Kyrgidis
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Koloutsos
authors: Argyro
authors: A
authors: Kommata
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Lazarides
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Antoniades
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Fracture; Intermaxillary fixation; Internal fixation; Mandible; Maxilla; Trauma