title: Retrospective evaluation of canine and feline maxillomandibular trauma cases. Comparison of lunar cycle and seasonality with non-maxillomandibular traumatic injuries (2003-2012).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine relationships between seasonality and lunar cycle and the frequency of maxillomandibular (MM) and non-maxillomandibular (non-MM) injury in canine and feline trauma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A medical records database was searched to identify all MM trauma patients (n = 67) and a random sample of non-MM trauma patients (n = 129) according to search criteria. Season of injury, moon phase, and moon luminosity were calculated for the date of injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maxillomandibular injury occurred predominately in the spring and decreased through winter while non-MM injury occurred more frequently in the summer and fall. The difference in the frequency of MM and non-MM injuries during different seasons was not significant (p = 0.071). When comparing the amount of moon illuminated when injuries occurred during the quarters before or after the full moon, a difference (p = 0.007) was noted with a greater number of injuries occurring immediately following the full moon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results may guide clinicians to closely evaluate trauma patients that are presented on emergency during a particular season or lunar phase. Based on the season at the time of injury, close evaluation for MM versus non-MM trauma may be appropriate.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Mulherin
authors.affiliation: Christopher J. Snyder, DVM, DAVDC, Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, United States, Phone: +1 608 890 0906, Fax: +1 608 263 7930, E-mail: csnyderdvm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Soukup
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hetzel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction / Q000662:veterinary*; D016081:Moon; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Maxillomandibular; fracture; injury; lunar cycle; seasonality; trauma