Associated injuries in pediatric patients with facial fractures in Portugal: Analysis of 1416 patients.
BACKGROUND
The authors performed a retrospective study to clarify the occurrence, causes, severity and predictors of concomitant injuries in pediatric patients with facial fractures in Portugal.


METHODS
The clinical records of children and adolescents (0-18 years) with facial fractures treated by the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery and of Maxillofacial Surgery of São João Hospital, in Porto, Portugal, over a period of 20 years (1993-2012) were reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 1416 patients with facial fractures were included in this study. Concomitant injuries were observed in 1015 (71.7%) patients. No significant associations were found between sex and concomitant injury. Head and neck injuries other than facial fractures occurred in 962 patients (67.7%), lower limb injuries in 122 (8.6%), upper limb injuries in 115 (8.1%), thoracic injuries in 89 (6.3%) and abdominal injuries in 47 (3.3%). Concomitant injuries occurred more frequently after motor vehicle accidents (car accident, motorcycle accident and car-pedestrian accident) compared with other etiologies (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of these facial fractures and their concomitant injuries is very high in Portugal. It is necessary to continue with the implementation of control measures and educational programs for the population, so that the number and severity of accidents causing fractures and their associated injuries continue to decrease.
Department of Plastic Reconstructive, Aesthetic, Maxillofacial Surgery and Burn Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: pedroferreira.plas@gmail.com.
Pedro Costa
PC
Ferreira
Center for Medical Education, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
Joselina
J
Barbosa
Department of Plastic Reconstructive, Aesthetic, Maxillofacial Surgery and Burn Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
José Manuel
JM
Amarante
Department of Plastic Reconstructive, Aesthetic, Maxillofacial Surgery and Burn Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
Jorge
J
Carvalho
Department of Plastic Reconstructive, Aesthetic, Maxillofacial Surgery and Burn Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal; Department of Microbiology, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
Acácio Gonçalves
AG
Rodrigues
Department of Plastic Reconstructive, Aesthetic, Maxillofacial Surgery and Burn Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto Medical School, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4202-451 Porto, Portugal.
Álvaro Catarino
ÁC
Silva
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001336:Automobiles; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries
Associated injuries; Pediatric facial fractures; Portugal