Maxillofacial Injuries in Female Victims of Domestic Violence: A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis

Maxillofacial injuries are commonly observed among women who have experienced domestic violence. The prevalence and characteristics of these injuries in Jordan remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and patterns of maxillofacial injuries among females affected by domestic violence in Jordan.

A total of 2643 records of domestic violence-related maxillofacial injuries in females were retrieved from the Family Protection and Juvenile Department and the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments of two major hospitals in Jordan. Descriptive statistics were computed, and associations were evaluated using Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.

The mean age at the time of injury was 29.19 years (SD: 11.8). The spouse was responsible for violent acts in 20% of cases. In 89.9% of cases, injuries were caused by direct blows. Soft tissue injuries were observed in most cases (98.1%), followed by midfacial fractures (5.6%), dentoalveolar injuries (1.7%), upper face fractures (1.2%), and lower face fractures (0.9%). The vast majority did not require surgical intervention (98.9%). Concomitant injuries to other body regions were identified in 70.6% of cases, with the upper extremities the most frequently affected (50.4%). Trauma to the upper extremities showed a significant inverse association with midfacial fractures (p < 0.001). Recurrent trauma was documented in 7.6% of cases. Individuals with recurrent trauma were more likely to present with concomitant injuries to other body regions (84.2%) than first-time trauma victims (69.5%).

Facial soft-tissue injuries were the most frequent. Midfacial fractures were the most common facial fracture type, though they were rare and less likely when an upper-limb injury occurred. Repeated trauma increases the likelihood of multiple fractures, emphasizing the need for early detection, reporting, and referral by healthcare professionals including oral & maxillofacial surgeons and dental health professionals.