Etiology and pattern of maxillofacial trauma

Maxillofacial trauma can be limited to superficial lacerations, abrasions, and facial bone fractures. The objective of this study was to determine the etiology, pattern, and predictors of soft tissue and bony injuries.

This study was conducted in the department of maxillofacial surgery Lady Reading hospital Pakistan from Jan 2019 to June 2021. The nonprobability consecutive sampling technique was used for the selection of patients. All patients were assessed clinically and radiologically. The neurosensory examination was done for any altered sensation, anesthesia, or paresthesia. Motor nerve function was also assessed clinically. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. The etiology and pattern of maxillofacial trauma were stratified among age and genders using the chi-square test to see effect modifiers. Tests for regression analysis were also applied. P≤0.05 was considered significant.

A total of 253 patients meeting inclusion criteria were included in this study. The majority of these patients were males, 223 (88.1%), while only 30 (11.9%) were females. The mean age for the group was 25.4 ± 12.6 years. RTAs were the most common causes of trauma (63.6%) followed by assault (15.0%), falls (11.5%), FAIs (5.9%), and sports (0.4%). The most vulnerable skeletal part was the mandible (22.9%) followed by Zygoma (7.1%), significantly predicted by RTAs. Soft tissue laceration analysis showed a high frequency of multiple lacerations (38%) significantly predicted by FAIs. The frequency of trigeminal nerve injury was 5.5% (14 patients) and that of the facial nerve was 1.6% (4 patients). The strongest association of nerve injury was with firearm injury (47%), followed by road traffic accidents and sports injuries.

Road traffic accident was the most common etiological factor and mandible fracture was commonly predicted by RTA. Trigeminal nerve injuries were common, frequency of nerve injuries was highly associated with mandible fracture and was predicted by FAI.