title: Analysis of patients with facial lacerations repaired in the emergency room of a provincial hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facial laceration is the most common injury encountered in the emergency room in the plastic surgery field, and optimal treatment is important. However, few authors have investigated this injury in all age groups or performed follow-up visit after repair. In the present study, the medical records of patients with lacerations in the facial area and underwent primary repair in an emergency room over a 2-year period were reviewed and analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of 3,234 patients with lacerations in facial area and underwent primary repair in an emergency room between March 2011 and February 2013 were reviewed and identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the 3,234 patients were evaluated, whose ratio of men to women was 2.65 to 1. The forehead was the most common region affected and a slip down was the most common mechanism of injury. In terms of monthly distribution, May had the highest percentage. 1,566 patients received follow-up managements, and 58 patients experienced complications. The average days of follow-up were 9.8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proportion of male adolescents was significantly higher than in the other groups. Facial lacerations exhibit a 'T-shaped' facial distribution centered about the forehead. Careful management is necessary if a laceration involves or is located in the oral cavity. We were unable to long term follow-up most patients. Thus, it is necessary to encourage patients and give them proper education for follow-up in enough period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Lark
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hea Kyeong
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seul
keywords: Facial injuries; Follow-up studies; Lacerations