[Prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms among patients with midfacial fractures]

Introduction: Midfacial fractures can result not only in functional and aesthetic impairments but also in psychological disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The most characteristic symptoms are intrusion (unwanted memories, dreams) and avoidance (efforts to evade trauma-related reminders). Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among patients with midfacial fractures and to analyze their associations with demographic (sex, age) and clinical (etiology, hospitalization) factors. We hypothesized that symptoms would be more severe in women, younger patients, those with violence-related injuries, and hospitalized cases. Method: In this retrospective, questionnaire-based study, using purposive (quota-like) sampling, 116 patients were evaluated with the validated Hungarian Impact of Event Scale; subgroup proportions are non-representative. Internal consistency of the subscales and the influence of demographic and clinical factors were analyzed. Results: PTSD symptoms were reported by 33.6% of patients. Internal consistency was excellent (intrusion α = 0.915; avoidance α = 0.933). Women scored higher, but differences were not statistically significant. Younger patients showed significantly higher intrusion scores (p = 0.046). Violence-related etiology and hospitalization were both significantly associated with higher intrusion and avoidance scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of patients experience long-term psychological burden after midfacial fractures. Psychological screening and early intervention should be integrated into multidisciplinary maxillofacial care, especially in high-risk subgroups. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(45): 1786–1792.