Psychosocial Support Following Maxillofacial Trauma and its Impact on Trauma Recurrence

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Psychotraumatology
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Maxillofacial trauma can lead to severe physical and psychosocial consequences.
• Recurrence of maxillofacial injuries is a documented concern.
• Psychological support is beneficial for patients experiencing maxillofacial trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify characteristics of maxillofacial trauma patients.
• Evaluate the re-injury rate following psychological support.
• Determine the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Main Methods:

• 100 patients were analyzed from trauma database (50 with and 50 without psychosocial intervention).
• Data collected included demographics, trauma patterns, and etiology.
• A Trauma Screening Questionnaire assessed PTSD symptoms one month post-injury.

Main Results:

• Assault was the most common cause of injury, followed by falls, with the mandible being the most frequent injury site.
• Injury recurrence decreased from 17% pre-intervention to 4% post-intervention at 3-year follow-up.
• At-risk groups for PTSD included males, non-indigenous individuals, and employed individuals without alcohol involvement.

Conclusions:

• Maxillofacial trauma is linked to significant psychological morbidity and PTSD risk.
• Specific demographic groups are more susceptible to these injuries and recurrence.
• Routine psychological support is recommended for maxillofacial trauma aftercare.