title: Maxillofacial injury: a retrospective analysis of time lapse between injury and treatment in a South African academic maxillofacial and oral surgery unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study was undertaken in an academic maxillofacial and oral surgical unit in a large quaternary hospital attached to the Medical School of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, between 2002 and 2006.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the number of days in seven patient management intervals from facial fracture occurrence to discharge from hospital, to gain insight into reasons for treatment delays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Facial fractures were treated a mean of 20.4 days from occurrence. There was a mean of 10.3 days from fracture to hospital presentation, and an identical period from hospital presentation to treatment. Statistical analysis showed that delay times decreased from 2002 to 2006.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More rapid referral to the maxillofacial and oral surgical unit is the most practical way to reduce delays further.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. mich.porter@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lownie
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cleaton-Jones
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000592:standards; D061665:Time-to-Treatment / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*