Objective. To retrospectively analyze the pattern of presentation and modalities of management of maxillofacial fractures in our center. Methods. The medical records of all the patients who sustained maxillofacial fractures presenting to a major referral hospital in Niger Delta region of Nigeria were retrieved and reviewed. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS statistical package. Results. Eighty-six patients presented with 135 maxillofacial fractures during the period under review. A male to female ration of 3？:？1 was recorded and patients in their third decade of life were mostly affected (46.5%). Road traffic accident (RTA) was the commonest etiology accounting for 46.5% whereas assault was second (19.8%). The mandible was the most frequently fractured bone (59.3%) followed by the zygoma (18.5%). The main stay of treatment was closed reduction with IMF (40.4%). Conclusion. Treatment modalities for maxillofacial fractures in our center have not witnessed any significant changes. Effort should be made to ensure the availability of miniplates to ensure adequate treatment for all categories of our patients. 1. Introduction Maxillofacial injuries in general occur quite commonly following trauma and these injuries if not properly managed can negatively influence both the psychosocial and functional activities of the patient [1]. This is as a result of the centrality of the facial region as a key factor in human identity, esthetics, and general well-being [1, 2]. These injuries can affect both skeletal and soft tissue structures of the facial region [3, 4] and often times, based on the etiology and mechanism of injury, occur in association with other systemic injuries thereby requiring multidisciplinary approach for their management [4–7]. The etiologies of maxillofacial fractures vary from one geographical location to another and also among different age groups. Road traffic accident (RTA) has been severally reported as the leading etiology of maxillofacial fractures especially in the developing world including Nigeria, whereas assault leads the pack of etiologies in the developed world [8–11]. However, there is an increasing influence of assault in our environment due to the current wave of terrorism and gun violence. Young men in the second and third decades of life are the worst afflicted owing to the fact that they engage frequently in activities that can predispose them to trauma [9, 10, 12]. Apart from RTA and assaults, other common causes of maxillofacial fractures include sporting injuries, industrial accidents, domestic accidents, falls, and
References
[1]
K. Yamamoto, Y. Matsusue, S. Horita, K. Murakami, T. Sugiura, and T. Kirita, “Clinical analysis of midfacial fractures,” Materia Socio Medica, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 21–25, 2014.
[2]
A. Parashar and R. K. Sharma, “Unfavourable outcomes in maxillofacial injuries: how to avoid and manage,” Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 221–234, 2013.
[3]
A. O. Fasola, A. E. Obiechina, and J. T. Arotiba, “Soft tissue injuries of the face: a 10 year review,” African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 59–62, 2000.
[4]
S. Udeabor, V. I. Akinmoladum, A. E. Obiechina, and A. A. Olusanya, “Pattern of midface trauma with associated concomitant injuries in a Nigerian referral centre,” Nigerian Journal of Surgery, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 26–29, 2014.
[5]
E. D. Arslan, A. G. Solakoglu, E. Komut et al., “Assessment of maxillofacial trauma in emergency department,” World Journal of Emergency Surgery, vol. 9, no. 1, article 13, 2014.
[6]
S. Yamano, M. Nissenbaum, T. B. Dodson, G. O. Gallucci, and C. Sukotjo, “Multidisciplinary treatment for a young patient with severe maxillofacial trauma from a snowmobile accident: a case report,” The Journal of Oral Implantology, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 141–144, 2010.
[7]
J. H.-J. Fong, H.-T. Wu, Y.-W. Chio et al., “Comprehensive rehabilitation after severe maxillofacial injury in a cleft patient,” Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, vol. 73, no. 10, pp. 543–548, 2010.
[8]
R. Bali, P. Sharma, A. Garg, and G. Dhillon, “A comprehensive study on maxillofacial trauma conducted in Yamunanagar, India,” Journal of injury & violence research, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 108–116, 2013.
[9]
A. O. Fasola, E. A. Nyako, A. E. Obiechina, and J. T. Arotiba, “Trends in the characteristics of maxillofacial fractures in Nigeria,” Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, vol. 61, no. 10, pp. 1140–1143, 2003.
[10]
W. L. Adeyemo, A. L. Ladeinde, M. O. Ogunlewe, and O. James, “Trends and characteristics of oral and maxillofacial injuries in Nigeria: a review of the literature,” Head & Face Medicine, vol. 1, article 7, 2005.
[11]
R. Gassner, T. Tuli, O. H？chl, A. Rudisch, and H. Ulmer, “Cranio-maxillofacial trauma: a 10 year review of 9543 cases with 21067 injuries,” Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 51–61, 2003.
[12]
B. van den Bergh, K. H. Karagozoglu, M. W. Heymans, and T. Forouzanfar, “Aetiology and incidence of maxillofacial trauma in Amsterdam: a retrospective analysis of 579 patients,” Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. e165–e169, 2012.
[13]
S. E. Udeabor, V. I. Akinmoladun, O. A. Fasola, and A. E. Obiechina, “Trends in the aetiology of middle third facial injuries in southwest Nigeria,” Oral Surgery, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 7–12, 2012.
[14]
I. Abbas and K. Ali, “Management of mandibular fractures—a prospective study,” Pakistan Oral & Dental Journal, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 151–152, 2002.
[15]
E. T. Adebayo, “Maxillofacial fractures in Port Harcourt, Nigeria—a short report,” African Journal of Trauma, vol. 2, pp. 85–87, 2004.
[16]
O. Oluduro and O. F. Oluduro, “Nigeria: in search of sustainable peace in the Niger delta through the amnesty programme,” Journal of Sustainable Development, vol. 5, no. 7, pp. 48–61, 2012.
[17]
E. T. Adebayo, O. S. Ajike, and E. O. Adekeye, “Analysis of the pattern of maxillofacial fractures in Kaduna, Nigeria,” British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, vol. 41, no. 6, pp. 396–400, 2003.
[18]
A. Dibaie, S. Raissian, and S. Ghafarzadeh, “Evaluation of maxillofacial traumatic injuries of forensic medical center of ahwaz, Iran, in 2005,” Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 79–82, 2009.
[19]
O. K. Ogundipe, A. O. Afolabi, and O. Adebayo, “Maxillofacial fractures in Owo, South Western Nigeria. A 4-year retrospective review of pattern and treatment outcome,” Dentistry, vol. 2, p. 132, 2012.
[20]
V. I. Ugboko, S. A. Odusanya, and O. O. Fagade, “Maxillofacial fractures in a semi-urban Nigerian teaching hospital: a review of 442 cases,” International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 286–289, 1998.
[21]
A. O. Fasola, A. E. Obiechina, and J. T. Arotiba, “An audit of midfacial fractures in Ibadan, Nigeria,” African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 183–186, 2001.
