A follow up study of facial fractures in Medellín (Colombia):1998-2003

Objective: Characterize the patients with maxillo facial trauma that receive asistance supported by The Dentistry Faculty of the University of Antioquia in The Oral Surgery & Maxillofacial Service of the San Paulxs Vicent University Hospital.

Methods: During five years ago all the patients with diagnosis of maxillar, mandibular and zygoma bone fractures were following up and registered in a basedata with age, gender, etiology, position, number of the lessons and treatment received variables. A descriptive statistical analysis were made with the SPSS.

Results: 1014 participants were included, 842 (83%) were men and 172 (17%) women, younger adults between 21 – 30 years old were affected in the highest level (36.7%); 11- 20 years with 24.9% and 31 -40 years with 18.3%. A child with six months was the youngest and a man with 80 years old was the oldest.

The etiology were divided in traffic accidents (53.4%) and violence (45.5%). There were considered causes of violence, beatings (31.4) and weapons injuries (14.1%).

In the mandibular region the sinphisis were the common area affected in 37%, following by condyle area (mandible body 19% and angle with 14.4%) and lower dento alveolar zone with 17.2%. In the maxillar, the upper dento alveolar zone were affected 24.8%, following by Le Fort III (8.9%), Le Fort II (7.7%) and Le Fort I (4.5%). The Knight & North clasification was used in the zygoma area, and I and III were identified like most common, 7.6% and 6.8% respectively. Finally, a one facial fracture lesson were found in 50.7% of the participants and two lessons in 29.6%.

Orthopedical reduction and surgeries were the therapies of election in 79% of the cases.

Conclusion: A five years following up study detected that men target were affected more than women by traffic accidents.