Influence of positions on the incidence and severity of middle third facial fractures in vehicular and motorcycle crashes seen in a Tertiary Health Facility

Objective: The incidence of middle third facial fractures due to traffic crashes has increased tremendously. In developed countries, there is a gradual decline in traffic crashes as a result of effective compliance with road safety measures unlike in developing countries where the incidence is increasing due to non-compliance and ineffective enforcement of road safety laws, among other factors. The objective was to present the influence of positioning on the incidence and severity of Maxillofacial injuries in vehicles and motor bike crashes in a Nigerian tertiary health facility. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of the influence of position of the patient on the incidence of middle third facial fractures presenting at a tertiary institution. Data were analysed using SPSS version 17. Results: There were more male than female in the ratio of 2.3:8:1 (M:F) and the mean age was 23.2 ± 3.4. Road traffic crash was the major cause of middle third fracture with 231 cases. Pillion passengers and front passengers on both motorcycles and vehicles were the most vulnerable passengers. Conclusion: There is a strong association between patient positioning and middle third fractures

A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis of 64 Cases of Cystic Lesions of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Orofacial cysts are broadly divided into odontogenic and nonodontogenic types, epithelial or non-epithelial, and developmental or inflammatory in origin. The odontogenic cyst is an osseous-destructive lesion that most commonly affects the jaw. It is formed by activation of odontogenic cell rests entrapped within the bone or gingival tissue of the jaws, such as the epithelial remains of Malassez, the dental lamina (cell rests of Serres), or the enamel organ. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all histologically diagnosed cysts of the orofacial region seen at the Maxillofacial clinic of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, between January 2003 and December 2012. RESULTS: Over the 10-year study period, 64 cases of cystic lesions of the orofacial region were seen in 1162 pathological specimens, representing 5.5%. Of these, there were 35 (54.7%) lesions in males and 29 (45.3%) in females giving a M:F ratio of 1.2:1. The age of the patients ranged from 4-64 years old (mean = 26.3 years). Dentigerous cyst (n = 21; 32.8%) was the most predominant lesion followed by periodontal (n = 12; 18.8%) and radicular cysts (n = 10; 15.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Cysts of the orofacial region are common in this environment and like previous studies from Nigeria odontogenic cysts are not uncommon, the most predominant being dentigerous cysts.