[Maxillofacial lesions in road accidents]

Authors have compared the cases of maxillo-facial fractures that have been admitted in the Maxillo-Facial department during a six months period before and after the mandatory use of helmets; that is from January through June in the years 1986 and 1987. A decrease in the number of injured (- 13.3%) and also a rate change was noted: the motorcycle drivers lost a 20.1%, while the adults who drove the motorbikes increased; a raise was found in the bicycle too (+ 8.7%). The lesions of the mandibular increased from 36.7% to 46.1% due to the protection offered to the maxilla by the helmets.