title: Mandibular fractures: an analysis of the epidemiology and patterns of injury in 4,143 fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to complete a comprehensive retrospective review of the epidemiology and patterns of injury in mandibular trauma based on the Parkland Memorial Hospital trauma database over a 17-year period. The authors identified 4,143 fractures in 2,828 patients from the databank. In mandibular trauma, the mechanism of injury and several other variables can be an important point of differentiation with regard to fracture pattern. By showing the statistical relation between these and fracture pattern, the authors hope to provide surgeons with a better understanding of such a relation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mandibular fracture data were collected from the Parkland Memorial Hospital trauma registry using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes (802.21 to 802.39). Information included fracture type, age, gender, mechanism of injury, and associated injuries. The Parkland Memorial Hospital trauma registry yielded 4,143 mandibular fractures in 2,828 patients managed at Parkland Memorial Hospital from 1993 through 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on retrospective analysis, results were obtained for age, gender, monthly distribution, anatomic distribution, and mechanism of injury. The average age was approximately 38 years, with most patients (33%) in the third decade. An overwhelming majority of patients were men (83.27%), with only 16.27% consisting of women. Most injuries occurred in the summer months, with July being the most common month of occurrence. The mechanism of injury predominantly involved low-velocity blunt injuries (62%) compared with high-velocity blunt injuries (31%). The anatomic distribution of fractures evaluated was the angle (27%), symphysis (21.3%), condyle and subcondyle (18.4%), and body (16.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study helps provide and support the relation between several variables associated with many common traumatic injuries seen in the mandible. This analysis can be used to help surgeons identify and anticipate injuries based on age, gender, and mechanism of injury.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Colleyville, TX; Clinical Faculty, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, TX.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Former Resident, Scottsdale, AZ.
authors.forename: Nicolas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Bebeau
authors.affiliation: Former Resident, Current Maxillofacial Oncology and Reconstructive Fellow University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brockhoff
authors.affiliation: Resident, UT Southwestern/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.affiliation: Program Director, UT Southwestern/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX. Electronic address: paul.tiwana.@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tiwana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult