A review of 100 closed head injuries associated with facial fractures

One hundred closed head injuries associated with facial fractures treated over a 78-month period at a level I trauma center in Northeast Ohio were reviewed. The incidence of closed head injury in patients with facial fractures was 17.5%. Males suffered closed head injuries four times more often than females, and sustained severe intracranial injuries eight times as often. The 16- to 30-year age group predominated (59%). Although motor vehicle accidents were the most frequent cause of injury (61%), motorcycle accidents were associated with the most severe head injury. The mandible/midface fracture ratio (1.3:1) was almost half that of the non-head-injured population (2.1:1). Facial fracture complications were found to have a similar incidence (14%) as in the non-head-injured population, but were associated with more severe intracranial injuries.