Incidence and aetiological pattern of jaw fractures in Greenland

All of the cases involving fractures of the mandible and/or maxilla in Greenland were recorded in a 1 1/2 year period beginning 1 July 1981. Further information of aetiological patterns was added from 2 studies of mandibular fractures in Godthåb/Greenland. The incidence of jaw fractures in Greenland (17 to 10,000 per year) was the highest ever reported. In 90% of these cases, the cause of fractures were interpersonal violence. Jaw fractures were encountered in nearly all districts of Greenland, most often in urban areas and the patients were chiefly of Greenlandic descent. The % of patients in the age group of 20-29 years was extremely high (57%) as was the women (36%). 75% of the women were ill-treated by their spouses. In half of the cases, the victims and the assailants were related. Victims unknown to the assailants made up only 20% of the cases. These were trends typical of a small society. Compared to other reports, violence in Greenland was aggravated and involvement of alcohol was seen in 4 out of 5 cases. Regulation and deregulation of alcohol in Greenland had only temporary effects on the occurrence of jaw fractures. Aetiological patterns of jaw fractures changes from one subculture to another depending on social conditions. The figures from Greenland demonstrated this.