ABSTRACT
Objective: To characterize the profile of hospitalizations and deaths related to craniofacial fractures in Brazilian children and adolescents. Material and Methods: This is an ecological cross-sectional study with inductive approach with comparative-descriptive procedure and indirect documentation technique. Data were obtained from the DATASUS / SIH-SUS website for the years 2010-2014, considering information for each state of the five Brazilian regions. Admission rates were calculated per 100,000 inhabitants, and data were analyzed by population rates, averages and absolute and relative frequencies. Results: The Northeastern region of Brazil showed the highest hospitalization rate (81.72), followed by the Northern (56.84), Southern (50.94), Midwestern (44.25) and Southeastern regions (30.28). In all regions, the years with the highest hospitalization rates were: 2010 for the Northern (13.17) and Southeastern regions (6.61), 2013 for the Northeastern (20.07) and Midwestern regions (10.17) and 2014 for the Southerner region (10.52). The highest hospitalization rates in all regions of the country in the last five years were observed for male children and adolescent. In relation to age group, higher rates were recorded from 15 to 19 years. Of the total of 27,244 hospitalizations (3.8%), 1028 patients died and 35.5% of them occurred in the Northeastern region. Considering the years under study, the average length of stay and average daily hospitalization cost were respectively 4.0 days and US$ 82.7. Conclusion: The Northeast region of Brazil had the highest hospitalization rate of children and adolescents by craniofacial fractures, and male adolescents and those aged 15-19 years were the most affected in different regions of the country. Costs of hospital admissions due to this type of injury are significant, with more deaths as a result of these injuries in Brazil in the last 5 years evaluated with the highest prevalence in the Northeastern region of Brazil.