Injuries to the head and face in Brazilian adolescents and teenagers victims of non-natural deaths.

This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of injuries to the head and face in adolescent and teenager victims of non-natural deaths. A retrospective study was undertaken by the analysis of medical forensic reports obtained from medical forensic examinations performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine of the city of Campina Grande, PB, Brazil, between January 2003 and December 2007. From a total of 607 reports issued during this time span, the study sample consisted of 423 reports (69.6%) referring to adolescents and teenagers of both genders, aged 12 to 18 years, who were confirmed to have died from external causes. The causes of death were encoded according to the Chapter XX of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). The majority of victims were 17 year old males (25.8%). Firearms (33.3%) and transport accidents (32.2%) were the most common causes of death, with boys showing a 3.7 times greater likelihood of getting killed by firearms than girls. There was statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of transport accidents and gender. The majority of victims (71.6%) presented with multiple injuries throughout the body. There was statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of transport accidents and the presence of multiple injuries. A high percentage of the victims presented with injuries to the head and face. There was statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of transport accidents and the presence of injury to the head. Fatal gunshot wounds and transport accidents were the main causes of death of male adolescents and teenagers. The victims presented with multiple injuries, especially to the head and face, and the mandible was the most frequently injured facial bone. .

Maxillofacial injuries and dental trauma in patients aged 19-80 years, Recife, Brazil

Objetivo: Se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo para evaluar las causas de traumatismomaxilofacial en Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil.Método: Se hizo una revisión de 186 pacientes con lesiones maxilofaciales de 19 a 83 años atendidosy tratados en el Hospital da Restauração entre Enero y Diciembre 2006, analizándoles segúnedad, sexo, etiología, localización de la fractura, traumatismo dentoalveolar y abuso de alcohol.Se llevó a cabo el análisis en Epi Info, utilizando el Chi cuadrado y la prueba exacta de Fisher.Resultados: Resultó que las lesiones maxilofaciales fueron más frecuentes en los hombres (89,2%)y en el grupo de edad de 19-28 años (46,8%). Accidentes de tráfico/motocicleta (23,7%) y violenciafísica (20,4%) fueron los factores etiológicos más comunes. Las fracturas faciales fueron detectadasen 90,9%, con una diferencia estadisticamente significativa entre el sexo y la fractura facial(p = 0,000). La fractura facial más común fue maxilar (29,1%), seguida por la de la mandíbula(27,5%). Hubo una asociación positiva entre la presencia de la fractura facial y el consumo dealcohol (p = 0,002). El traumatismo dentoalveolar estuvo presente en el 7,5% de los pacientes.Conclusión: La incidencia de las fracturas faciales en la población Brasileña es similar a la informadapreviamente en otros lugares. Las fracturas fueron más comunes en pacientes masculinos,principalmente debidas a accidentes de tráfico/motocicletas y a la violencia física(AU)

Aim: A retrospective study was undertaken to assess causes of maxillofacial trauma inRecife, Pernambuco, Brazil.Method: A review of 186 patients with maxillofacial injuries aged 19 and 83 years old seenand treated at the Hospital da Restauração between January and December 2006 wasconducted and were analyzed according to age, sex, etiology, site of fracture, dentoalveolartrauma and alcohol abuse. Analysis was made in Epi Info using the Chi-square and Fisher’sExact Tests.Results: It was found that maxillofacial injuries were most frequent in males (89.2%) and inthe 19-28 year age group (46.8%). Traffic accidents/motorcycle (23.7%) and physical violence(20.4%) were the most common etiological factor. Facial fractures were detected in 90.9%and a statistically significant difference between sex and facial fracture was found (p =0.000). The most common facial fracture was maxilla (29.1%), followed by the mandible(27.5%). A positive association between the presence of facial fracture and alcoholconsumption was observed (p = 0.002). Dentoalveolar trauma was present in 7.5% ofpatients.Conclusion: The incidence of facial fractures in Brazilian population is similar thanpreviously reported elsewhere. There were most common in male patients, mainly due totraffic accidents/motorcycle and physical violence(AU)