Maxillofacial fractures

Abstract EN

Objective : To determine the causes and incidence of the maxillofacial fractures in Jordan.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 400 patients with maxillofacial skeletal fractures which were treated in a group of military hospitals distributed all over the country during the six year period from 1989 to 1995.

Simple methods of reduction and fixation were used for most fractures of the mandible, transosseous wiring was used for Lefort type of injuries, and Zygomatic arch fractures were treated by elevation.

Results: Eighty one percent of the patients were males and between 10 and 40 years of age with the peak incidence occurring in the 20 to 30- years age group.

Seventy percent of the fractures were due to road traffic accidents, fall from a height 18 %, and fights 7 %.

Seventy five percent of all fractures involved the mandible.

Conclusion : The commonest etiological factors responsible for facial injuries are road traffic accidents, followed by fall, and in all age groups males were more likely to be affected than females, and the most common site of fracture was the mandible.