title: Etiology of facial fractures in elderly Finns during 2006-2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to clarify the trauma mechanisms and resulting facial fractures in geriatric patients and to compare them with those of younger adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 117 geriatric patients was compared with 136 patients aged 20 to 50 years. The statistical significance of differences between the age groups was evaluated with χ(2) tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Falls on the ground were significantly more frequent among geriatric patients (P < .001), whereas assault was more frequent in controls (P < .001). Accident rates in geriatric patients were significantly higher during the winter months (P = .04). Fractures of the midface in general (P = .001) and of the nasal bone (P = .004) and orbit (P = .015) in particular were more frequent in geriatric patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age-related factors and preexisting medical problems predispose the elderly to falls and subsequent fractures. Footwear traction devices are recommended during the cold season. Orbital fractures should be strongly suspected in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: miika.toivari@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Miika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toivari
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Miia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helenius
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare and Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki/Kuopio, Finland; Department of Oral Public Health, Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna Liisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Suominen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thorén
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*