Characteristic clinical features of maxillofacial injuries encountered over 16-year period - Retrospective study

Objective: The causes of maxillofacial fractures and their characteristics differ throughout the world. The aim of the present study was to survey and evaluate the characteristics of maxillofacial fractures in cases treated at our institution.Methods: The records of patients with maxillofacial fractures treated during a 16-year period were examined. The survey items included sex, age, number of affected patients by year and month, cause of injury, consultation route, time between injury and initial examination, fracture site, and treatment strategy.Results: There were 246 males and 100 females, for a male-female ratio of approximately 2.5:1, and average age was 37.4 years (range 0-93 years). By year, the number of cases was highest in 2017 and lowest in 2012, while by month, May showed the highest and January the lowest numbers. The most common cause of injury was a fall. When cause was examined in accordance with age, the number related to assault was high among young people and that related to a fall was high among elderly, with the overall rate because of a fall high since 2013. Injuries related to assault were increased in April and May, while those related sports activities were high in August. The most common fracture site was the condyle, with open reduction and internal fixation the treatment strategy most often chosen.Conclusions: Maxillofacial fractures treated in our department were primarily related to patient activity, with higher rates noted during the warm weather season and decrease following a large earthquake.