Retrospective Study of the Epidemiological Profile of Facial Trauma Related to Violence

Abstract

Facial trauma is now considered an epidemic due to its high incidence. This type of injury represents an impact on the social, psychological and professional life of the victim. It may be associated with poor protection and exposure of this region of the body, as well as with the attempt to disfigure the face of victims of aggression, to affect their identity and self-image. This study aims to carry out an epidemiological survey on the profile of facial trauma related to violence at the First Aid Hospital of Porto Alegre from November 2015 to July 2016. In this retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study, data such as age and sex of the patient, type of trauma, anatomical region, etiology, and reasons for the aggression of patients' records were analyzed using the Chi-Square test in Paws Statistics 18 software, evaluating P < 0.05. During the period evaluated, 1224 cases were recorded. The most prevalent sex was male. The age group with the most injuries varied from 21 to 40. The most affected type of lesion was soft tissue injury. Scalp regions (parietal, occipital, temporal) and multiple regions were the most affected in males, differing from females, where the frontal and nasal regions were the most predominant. Violence is a major risk factor for facial trauma in adult patients and it is from epidemiological studies like this that we have the possibility to know the magnitude and severity of the results of violence, allowing the definition of public policies for coping.