Analysis of patients with facial lacerations repaired in the emergency room of a provincial hospital

Abstract

Background: Facial laceration is the most common injury encountered in the emergency room in the plastic surgery field, and optimal treatment is important. However, few authors have investigated this injury in all age groups or performed follow-up visit after repair. In the present study, the medical records of patients with lacerations in the facial area and underwent primary repair in an emergency room over a 2-year period were reviewed and analyzed.

Methods: Medical records of 3,234 patients with lacerations in facial area and underwent primary repair in an emergency room between March 2011 and February 2013 were reviewed and identified.

Results: All the 3,234 patients were evaluated, whose ratio of men to women was 2.65 to 1. The forehead was the most common region affected and a slip down was the most common mechanism of injury. In terms of monthly distribution, May had the highest percentage. 1,566 patients received follow-up managements, and 58 patients experienced complications. The average days of follow-up were 9.8.

Conclusions: Proportion of male adolescents was significantly higher than in the other groups. Facial lacerations exhibit a 'T-shaped' facial distribution centered about the forehead. Careful management is necessary if a laceration involves or is located in the oral cavity. We were unable to long term follow-up most patients. Thus, it is necessary to encourage patients and give them proper education for follow-up in enough period.

Keywords: Facial injuries; Follow-up studies; Lacerations.

Fig. 1

Distribution of injury sites categorized by aesthetic unit Facial lacerations exhibit a 'T-shaped' facial distribution centered about the forehead (From Lee et al. Plast Reconstr Surg 1997;99:1544-54, with permission from American Society of Plastic Surgeons [2]).

Fig. 2

Distribution of age and gender The study cohort comprised 2,348 (72.6%) men and 886 (27.4%) women (male/female ratio 2.65:1). Patients included were of preschool age (0-6 years), school age (7-12 years), adolescents (13-18 years), adults (19-64 years), or seniors (over 65 years) and these corresponded to 1,130 (34.9%), 328 (10.1%), 206 (6.4%), 1,406 (43.5%), and 164 (5.1%), respectively, of all study subjects.

Fig. 3

Distribution of facial laceration modes A slip down (1,326, 41.0%) was the most common mechanism of injury followed by impact (1,197, 37.0%).

Fig. 4

Distribution of time of injury More patients were injured from 7 to 8 PM.

Fig. 5

Distribution by month of injury Numbers of injuries peaked in May (345, 10.7%) and showed a nadir in February (189, 5.8%).

Fig. 6

Injury distribution by day of the week Numbers of injuries were greatest on Saturdays (738, 22.8%) and Sundays (719, 22.2%).