title: Maxillofacial fractures at Waikato Hospital, New Zealand: 2004 to 2013.
abstract: Injury to the maxillofacial region continues to place a burden on hospital care in New Zealand, with maxillofacial fractures often being associated with both a significant social cost and personal morbidity. This article describes the characteristics, aetiology and treatment patterns in a tertiary maxillofacial centre in New Zealand during a 10-year period. Over the observation period, a total of 1,975 cases were treated, with a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. The highest incidence was in the 20-29-year-age group. Interpersonal violence (IPV) was the most common aetiology, observed in 54.5% overall, and more common among males than females (58% and 38% respectively; P&lt;0.001). Falls were the most common cause of injury among older females (those aged 50+). Comparison to an earlier analysis shows that IPV-related maxillofacial trauma has increased significantly at this tertiary centre, increasing from 36.2% of cases in 1989-2000, to 54.5% in 2004-2013. There remains an urgent need for appropriate health promotion to reduce interpersonal violence, as well as an increase in the staffing numbers of maxillofacial units in New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: 5th year medical student, University of Otago, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand. blakemoore946@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Blake K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Agnus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colquhoun
authors.forename: W Murray
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology