Maxillofacial fractures sustained in bicycle accidents

The purpose of this study was to analyze maxillofacial fractures sustained in bicycle accidents by demographics, cause of injury, site and severity of fractures, injuries to other sites of the body, and treatment modalities.

Data on 307 patients treated for maxillofacial fractures sustained in bicycle accidents in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University from 1981 through 2009 were analyzed retrospectively.

The patients were 166 males and 141 females (average age, 30.9 years). Causes of injury were a fall on a level surface in 169 patients, an automobile accident in 56, fall from 1 level to another in 28, and a motorcycle accident in 24. One hundred seventy-five fractures were observed in the mandible, 117 in the midface, and 15 in the mandible and midface. In the mandible, fracture lines were exclusively observed at the condyle. In the midface, the zygoma was most frequently involved. The Facial Injury Severity Scale ranged from 1 to 7 (average, 1.88). Injuries at other sites of the body were found in 47 patients and were frequently found in automobile and motorcycle accidents. Maxillomandibular fixation was most frequently chosen in 81 patients, followed by observation in 76 and open reduction and internal fixation in 71. The Facial Injury Severity Scale was highest in patients treated by open reduction and internal fixation, followed by those treated by maxillomandibular fixation.

Maxillofacial fractures sustained in a bicycle accident frequently occurred by falling on a level surface and were not so serious in most cases; however, in accidents with motor vehicles, injuries to other sites of the body were observed at a higher rate.