title: Etiology, distribution, treatment modalities and complications of maxillofacial fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the trends and factors associated with maxillofacial fractures treated from 1997 to 2007 in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 364 patients of which 82% were men and 45%, 20-29-years old. The etiology, anatomical distribution, treatment modality and complications of maxillofacial fractures were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, interpersonal violence, traffic accidents and falls were the most common mechanisms of injury. There was a decreasing trend in traffic accidents and increasing one in falls as a cause of fracture over the 11-years period of this study. Young male patients were preferentially victim of interpersonal violence and traffic accidents, while middle-aged ones were of falls and work-related accidents. Middle-aged female patients were preferentially victim of traffic accidents and interpersonal violence, while older ones were of falls. And the number of fractures per patient varied according to the mechanism of injury: low after work-related accidents and high after traffic accidents. About two-third of fractures involved the mandible. Most of these mandibular fractures were treated by osteosynthesis with or without intermaxillary fixation, with the proportion of the latter increasing over time. There were very few postoperative infections and only in mandible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maxillofacial fractures predominantly occur in young men, due to interpersonal violence. There is nevertheless an increasing trend in falls as a cause of fracture, especially in female patients, consistent with the increasing trend in presentation of older people. Most maxillofacial fractures involve the mandible and there is an increasing trend in treating these fractures by osteosynthesis without intermaxillary fixation. Antibiotic prophylaxis associated with dental hygiene care can be indicated to prevent postoperative infections.
authors: Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, 11 Boulevard Charles de Gaulle, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France, radhouane.dallel@udamail.fr.
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Pham-Dang
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Barthélémy
authors: Thierry
authors: T
authors: Orliaguet
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Artola
authors: Jean-Michel
authors: JM
authors: Mondié
authors: Radhouane
authors: R
authors: Dallel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult