Patterns and Determinants of Maxillofacial Trauma in Manipur: Prevalence of Protective Gear Use and Influence of...

Introduction: Motor vehicle collisions, violence between individuals, falls, sports-related accidents and firearm injuries are frequent causes of maxillofacial trauma, which is a significant public health concern. Alcohol intoxication and a lack of use of protective gear are two factors that are known to raise the risk and complexity of these injuries. Despite its clinical and societal impact, region-specific data on the distribution of maxillofacial trauma by anatomical site and etiology in Manipur, India, remain limited. This observational investigation was conducted to determine the patterns of maxillofacial fractures in terms of anatomical location and causative factors, identify the prevalence of protective equipment usage and explore the relationship between alcohol consumption and the etiology, anatomical site and severity of facial injuries. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over a two-month period at tertiary care hospitals in Manipur, enrolling 44 patients with radiographically confirmed maxillofacial trauma. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical presentation and imaging findings were systematically collected. The severity of facial injuries was assessed using the AIS-90 facial injury scale. Association between alcohol intoxication and various injury parameters were analyzed using the Chi-square test (p value < 0.05). Results: Males constituted the predominant proportion of patients (84.1%), with a mean age of 31.1 years. Fractures of the mandible were most common (50%), followed by dentoalveolar (15.9%) and midfacial fractures (11.4%). Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the predominant cause (61.4%), followed by assault (13.6%) and accidental falls (9.1%). Only 2.3% of patients reported using protective gear at the time of injury. Alcohol intoxication was observed in 40.9% of cases and was significantly associated with RTAs (p value <0.05), fracture site (p value < 0.005) and severity (p value < 0.05). Conclusion: Motor vehicle collisions were identified as the leading cause of maxillofacial injuries, with alcohol intoxication and inadequate use of protective equipment markedly increasing both the risk and severity of trauma. Enforcement of helmet and seatbelt regulations, public awareness on alcohol-related risks and promotion of protective gear use are essential to reduce maxillofacial injuries in the region.