The prevalence and causes of maxillofacial fractures in patients attending Accident and Emergency Departments in Recife-Brazil

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of maxillofacial fractures among patients admitted to the Accident and Emergency Departments of three major hospitals in Recife, Brazil.

Material and methods: A prospective design. The data were collected from each hospital over 3 months. A timetable was developed which randomly allocated visits to the three hospitals, six times a week for 6 hours a day. Data on socio-demographic variables, presence of bone fractures and/or maxillofacial fractures, type of injuries, aetiological factors, and place of occurrence were recorded.

Results: The final sample size was 5,644 patients. The prevalence of any bone fractures was 32.1% and for maxillofacial fractures 4.1%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that maxillofacial fractures were related to age, sex and level of education but not to employment status. Violence was the main cause of maxillofacial fractures, and the most frequent place of occurrence was the street.

Conclusions: Maxillofacial fractures represented 12.6% of all bone fractures, males and less educated subjects were more likely to be affected than their females and more educated counterparts, and violence was the most common cause.