A Retrospective Analysis of Maxillofacial Trauma in Shiraz, Iran: a 6-Year- Study of 768 Patients (2004-2010)

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Information about the etiology and incidence of maxillofacial trauma is important for prevention and appropriate treatments of such injuries. PURPOSE The purpose of this retrospective study was to conduct an analysis of maxillofacial injuries transferred and/or referred to the department of maxillofacial Surgery at Chamran emergency hospital, Shiraz, over a 6-year period with special reference to age, gender, occupation, date, type, site, etiology and clinical management. MATERIALS AND METHOD The data for this study were collected and reviewed retrospectively from the records and radiographs of 768 patients who were treated for maxillofacial trauma in the department of maxillofacial surgery at the Shiraz Chamran Emergency Hospital, Iran, between 2004 and 2010. RESULTS A total of 730 of the subjects were the patients with fractures of the facial skeleton. The mean age was 26.6± 12.6 years, ranging from 2 to 81 years. Traffic accident was the most frequent etiological factor of maxillofacial fractures irrespective of gender (69.9% for men and 54.2% for women), whereas the second most frequent cause of injuries was falling down (9.8% for men and 21.5% for women) .The other etiologies were assaults (5.2%), sport related injuries (1.3%) and firearm injuries (1%). Regarding the head injuries in patients with maxillofacial fractures, brain contusion was seen in 227(29.6%) patients and 13.5% of patients had lacerations in the facial soft tissue. The monthly distribution peaked in October, with 81 cases (10.5%), which would be for the reason that schools open in this month. The next highest incidence was in December, with 80 cases (10.4%), probably because of the changing weather's effect on road traffic. CONCLUSION Isolated mandibular fracture due to the road traffic accident was the most common type of maxillofacial injuries in the city of Shiraz.