ABSTRACT
Background: The incidence of maxillofacial skeleton fractures is rising sharply world wide, the main contributors being road side accidents, interpersonal violence and falls from heights. If not treated properly, such fractures may lead to life long functional and structural disability
Objective: This study was planned to determine demographics, clinical features, patterns of mandibular bone fractures, management, postoperative evaluation and regulatory aspects of causes of such fractures
Patients and methods: This was a descriptive study, based on data of 150 consecutive patients of facial skeleton fractures, from January 2008 to December 2009. Variables examined included demographic and clinical features, patterns of mandibular bone fractures and results of open and closed reduction of isolated mandibular fractures using surgical stainless steel wires. Patients were followed up for one year
Results: There were 135 [90%] male and 15 [10%] females, age ranged from 5-70 years [mean age was 25 years]. Most common causes were motor bike accidents [57%], and falls from different heights [16%]. Nasal bone was the most commonly fractured bone, seen in 112 [75%] patients, followed by mandible fractures in 80 patients. In s62, selected cases of mandibular fractures postoperative complication rate was higher in closed reduction than in open reduction cases with internal fixation [ORIF]
Conclusion: Long-term collection of epidemiological data regarding maxillofacial skeleton and management aspects of mandibular fractures are important for the evaluation of existing preventive measures and useful in the development of new methods of injury prevention and treatment