Elsevier

Injury

Volume 33, Issue 8, October 2002, Pages 669-671
Injury

Epidemiology of facial trauma in a sample of patients aged 1–18 years

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-1383(01)00201-7Get rights and content

Abstract

This study reviews the epidemiology of patients aged 1–18 years treated for maxillofacial injuries during a 3 year period at a tertiary care centre. Of the 276 patients, 65.5% were aged 1–10 years. Seventy-three per cent of injuries were to the soft tissues and 15% of injuries were fractures. The mandible and zygoma were the most commonly fractured facial bones. In the adolescent group, facial fractures accounted for over half of all injuries. Injuries of 96.8% were classed as minor to moderate. Falls were by far, the commonest cause of injury, but with increasing age, assaults became more common. A surprisingly high incidence of dog bite injuries was noted, particularly in children under 7 years of age.

Introduction

It has been shown in several studies of maxillofacial trauma that injuries of the maxillofacial region are less common in children than in adults [1]. Also, studies have shown that injuries tend to be, in general, less severe in young children than in older children [2], [3], [4]. This study was designed to investigate patterns in the aetiology and nature of injuries seen in a sample of children and adolescents.

Section snippets

Patients and methods

This was a retrospective study, carried out during the author’s final year at dental school, on all patients aged 1–18 who were treated for maxillofacial injuries in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or in the Accident and Emergency Department at the North Staffordshire Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, UK from 1996 to 1999.

The study group was divided into two age groups, Group A comprised all patients aged 1–10 years and Group B comprised patients aged 11–18 years. The location,

Results

Two hundred and seventy-six patients were assessed for the study. The notes of three patients were not retrievable. The sample comprised 193 males and 83 females (Fig. 1). The ratio of males to females varied considerably with each age and the overall distribution showed that the ratio of males to females in Group A was 1.5:1, but the ratio of males to females in Group B was 7.6:1. The male to female ratio increased markedly throughout Group B. In the 16–18-year-old age band this ratio was 12:1.

Discussion

This study should minimise the possibility of bias as all patients were consecutive and no category of patient was excluded. In addition, we included not only patients who attended the clinics, but also all patients who were seen in the department of accident and emergency. The study was carried out in a tertiary centre that has a catchment area encompassing a city, several towns and rural areas, thereby providing a sample that reflects the general population as closely as possible.

It has been

Conclusion

Facial trauma is a relatively common occurrence in young children, with a preponderance of minor injuries. As age increases, the severity of injuries sustained increases. Overall, the vast majority of injuries in children and adolescents are minor to moderate. Falls and dog bites account for the majority of injuries in younger age group, but with increasing age, assaults become a major factor, and as a result fracture incidence increases with age.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all of the consultants who gave their permission to review the records of their patients. Many thanks to Professor F.J. Trevor Burke and Dr. Ruth Freeman for their advice and thanks to the entire Medical Records Department at the North Staffordshire Hospital for their help in tracing records.

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