Recommendations for Care of Geriatric Maxillofacial Trauma Patients Following a Retrospective 10-Year Multicenter...

The purpose of this study was to analyze maxillofacial trauma sustained by patients at least 75 years old. With the injury patterns identified, treatment recommendations for the contemporary oral and maxillofacial surgeon are made.

This study was a retrospective case series using data from 2 level 1 trauma centers. The variables of interest included age at traumatic event, gender, mechanism of trauma, concomitant injuries, radiographic studies performed, management of maxillofacial injuries, and disposition. Numerical analysis was completed with statistical software.

One hundred seventy-six patients at least 75 years old who sustained facial trauma were identified. Ground-level falls caused most cases of maxillofacial trauma in the geriatric population. The median age at the time of trauma was 83 and 85 years for men and women, respectively. The most common injuries were midface fractures. Intracranial hemorrhage was the most common concomitant injury, and all but 1 patient underwent computed tomography of at least the head after their traumatic event. Most maxillofacial injuries were treated without operative repair.

The information gained from this study suggests that oral and maxillofacial surgeons should counsel geriatric patients on the risk of falls and encourage the prevention of potential hazards for falls in their homes.