RESUMEN
A retrospective analysis of all clinical and radiological records of two hundred and seventy-nine [279] patients, admitted with facial fractures over a six year period, has been carried out to evaluate the trends in the etiology and patterns of facial fractures in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates [U.A.E.]. The majority of facial fractures were found in 16 to 20 year old males. Road traffic accident [60%] was the most common cause, while assault accounted for 6% of the cases. In comparison with other studies, patients in the present study sustained more extensive facial fractures, as well as higher number of associated injuries. The severity of injuries observed is attributed to the predominance of road traffic accidents as the major cause and the absence of an obligatory seat belt law