Jaw fractures in children.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Traumatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Jaw fractures represent a significant portion of traumatic injuries treated at university hospitals.
• Pediatric jaw fractures require specific consideration due to developmental and etiological differences compared to adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze the incidence, etiology, and characteristics of jaw fractures in pediatric patients.
• To identify age-specific causes and fracture types in children treated for maxillofacial trauma.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 350 jaw fracture cases treated between 1980-1984.
• Analysis of pediatric cases (20% of total) focusing on age, sex, fracture type, and etiology.
• Categorization of etiological factors based on age groups (under 7 years and 7-15 years).

Main Results:

• 20% of 350 treated jaw fractures were in children (70 patients: 45 boys, 25 girls).
• Maxillary and mandibular fractures occurred in 28.6% of young patients; alveolar process fractures were most common, particularly in mixed dentition.
• Falls from height caused fractures in children under 7; road accidents (primarily cycling) were the main cause in children aged 7-15 (47.1%), especially boys.
• 25.7% of pediatric patients had multiple injuries.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric jaw fractures are predominantly caused by falls and road traffic accidents.
• Age and dentition status are critical factors influencing the etiology and type of pediatric jaw fractures.
• A significant proportion of children with jaw fractures sustain associated injuries, necessitating comprehensive trauma evaluation.