The relationship between aetiology and distribution of facial lacerations

Are Facial Soft Tissue Injury Patterns Associated With Facial Bone Fractures Following Motorcycle-Related Accident?

PURPOSE

The unprotected nature of motorcycle riding exposes motorcyclists to an elevated risk of sustaining facial soft tissue injuries (STIs); however, its link with underlying facial bone fractures remains unexplored. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the type and site of STI sustained by motorcyclists were associated with the presence of underlying facial bone fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients identified from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center trauma census who had motorcycle-related injury and met the inclusion criteria. The primary predictor variable was the type (laceration, contusion, abrasion, and no injuries) and site of STIs sustained. The site of the facial STI was categorized as per 17 different zones based upon the modified MCFONTZL classification. The primary outcome variable was the presence or absence of facial bone fractures as determined from the computed tomography scan. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed to measure the association between sustaining facial bone fractures and type/site of STI.

RESULTS

Seventy three patients (65 men and 8 women) were included in this study. The average age was 31.9 years (standard deviation ± 13.6) with a range of 18 to 70 years. There were 1,241 facial zones being assessed with 285 (23%) and 214 (17%) zones having STI and fractures, respectively. Laceration (124/285, 43%) and the orbital zone (53/285, 19%) were the most common type and site of STI, respectively, among motorcyclists. Facial bone fractures are more commonly seen following STI in the midface (71% of STI had fractures) compared to upper face (53%) and lower face (31%). Sustaining laceration type of STI was not associated with a higher rate of facial bone fracture when compared with other type of STI (54.8% vs 55.9%, P = .858) with the exception of laceration in the frontal zone (42.9% vs 10.5%, P = .022).

CONCLUSIONS

The different types of STI in the facial area cannot be used as a predictor for sustaining underlying facial bone fractures.

Management of Nasal Trauma

Facial trauma can have long-lasting physical and mental consequences. Trauma to the nose is commonly seen in the emergency department. Nasal lacerations account for 7% of all facial lacerations. Thorough examination and documentation including photographs is important for documentation and creating a reconstruction plan. Underlying damage to cartilage or bone must be reconstructed initially or in a delayed fashion to recreate the pretrauma anatomy and function. There are several options for soft tissue nasal reconstruction, including local flaps, skin grafts, pedicle flaps, and free flaps. At present there is no standard of care for postoperative facial trauma wound care.

Management of Acute Soft Tissue Injuries of the Cheek and Principles of Scar Revision

Facial soft tissue injury is a challenging and complex problem for the facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon for cosmetic and functional reasons. This article will focus on the management of soft tissue injuries of the cheek, one of the most important presenting areas of the face. The cheek, like any other part of the face, is susceptible to several types of injury and any of these injuries have the potential to disfigure and debilitate. Knowledge of anatomical structures and wound healing principles is critical to devising an appropriate management plan and achieving superior patient outcomes in scar revision cases. Multiple techniques to improve long-term scarring from facial soft tissue injuries are available.

Retrospective radiological evaluation to study the prevalence and pattern of maxillofacial fracture among Military personal at Prince Sultan Military Medical City [PSMMC], Riyadh: An institutional study

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to analyze the prevalence, causes, and patterns of maxillofacial fractures retrospectively in patients who were treated at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

Patients′ medical records were reviewed from 2005 to 2014. Patient′s age, gender, cause, and the pattern of maxillofacial fractures were studied. Associated body injuries were also recorded.

Results

Out of 263 patients, 207 (78.7%) were male and 56 (21.3%) were female. The age range was from 3 to 67 yr with a mean age of 26.21 yr. Road traffic accidents 236 (89.8%) were the most commonly reported cause of maxillofacial fractures, followed by falls 14 (5.3%), assaults 4 (1.5%), gunshot 3 (1.1%), and sport accidents 2 (0.8%). Most of the cases of maxillary fracture were Le Fort II 27 (36.5%), followed by LeFort I 23 (31.1%), LeFort III 20 (27.0%) and palatal fractures 4 (5.4%). Of the mandibular fractures, parasymphysis fractures constituted 61 (27.4%), body 50 (22.4%), condyle 45 (20.2%), angle 40 (17.9%), symphysis 16 (7.2%), ramus 7 (3.1%) and coronoid 4 (1.8%). Zygomatic complex fractures 110 (94.8%) were the most commonly reported fractures in the mid and upper facial region. Other facial fractures included orbital floor 61 (97.0%), naso-orbito-ethmoidal 18 (19.8%), and frontal 12 (13.2%).

Conclusion

Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of maxillofacial fractures. Spreading awareness among young drivers regarding road safety regulations is highly recommended.

Soft Tissue Injuries of the Maxillofacial Region Occurring from Motorcycle Accidents

Introduction

Soft tissue injuries are the most common type of injury occurring from a motorcycle accident. Not many studies have been conducted to determine the incidence and pattern of soft tissue injuries and the effectiveness of helmet to prevent them.

Methods

In this prospective cross-sectional study, all the patients attending three centres in North Bangalore, with facial injuries occurring from a motorcycle accident, were included. The subjects were analysed for the type of collision, helmet use, type of helmet use and incidence and pattern of extra-oral and intra-oral soft tissue injuries.

Results

A total number of 311 motorcyclists were included in this study for a period of 18 months (December 2015-June 2017). The most prominent age group was 21-30 years. Abrasions were the most common type of injury followed by the lacerations, contusions and communication. Injuries to the middle third and lower third of the face were significantly higher in non-helmeted and open-face-helmeted patients. Middle third injuries were most common in the full-face helmet group.

Conclusion

Abrasions are the most common type of soft tissue injury, and most common site was the nose, followed by the forehead, orbit and chin. Full-face helmets are more effective and protective as compared to open-face helmets. Open-face helmets offer minimal protection against facial injuries occurring from road traffic accidents.

Etiology and patterns of facial lacerations and their possible association with underlying maxillofacial fractures

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to analyze the etiology and patterns of soft-tissue facial lacerations associated with maxillofacial fractures and to identify associations between facial lacerations and underlying fractures.

METHODS

Of 1960 patients who had been admitted for maxillofacial fractures between 2001 and 2010, only patients with complete clinical records presenting with facial lacerations were considered for this study. Facial lacerations were classified according to the MCFONTZL system.

RESULTS

Of the 1960 patients admitted with maxillofacial fractures, 637 had 836 associated facial lacerations. Motor vehicle accidents and falls were responsible for most injuries to patients with facial lacerations. According to etiology, fractures resulting from work-related accidents more frequently produced associated lacerations.For all causes of injury, more facial lacerations were observed over the "T" area formed by the upper orbit and forehead, nose, upper and lower lips, and chin. Lacerations and maxillofacial fractures were more frequently localized to the middle third of the face, followed by the inferior third.There was a strong association between lacerations and fractures in the chin region, considering both symphyseal and parasymphyseal fractures (direct trauma) and condylar fractures (indirect trauma).

CONCLUSIONS

An association between facial lacerations and underlying maxillofacial fractures was observed, particularly in the inferior orbital area and over the zygoma, mandible, and chin.

[Facial wounds: an epidemiological review of 850 cases]

BACKGROUND

Facial wound are among the most frequent emergencies. They often affect a young population. We studied the epidemiological profile of facial wounds admitted in our hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective study was carried out in the Emergency Unit from June 2008 to June 2009. It included all patients having presented with at least one facial wound. The analysed parameters were patient, trauma, and wound characteristics.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and fifty patients were included, 20% of whom were female patients. The most frequent etiologies were traffic accidents for men, assault for women, and domestic accidents for children. Alcohol abuse was involved in 12.4% of the cases. The most frequent wound localization was frontal (35.4%). A craniofacial organ (eye, brain…) was affected in 6.1% of the cases; the wound was associated to a craniofacial fracture in 9.6% of the cases, and to an extrafacial lesion in 22% of the cases.

DISCUSSION

Facial wounds are a frequent emergency. They are predominant in young male patients. The high frequency of traffic accident and alcohol abuse requires an adequate prevention policy.

Maxillofacial trauma with emphasis on soft-tissue injuries in Malaysia

Soft-tissue injuries with or without facial bone involvement are the most common presentation following maxillofacial trauma. The objective of this study was to look at the distribution, pattern and type of soft-tissue injury in relation to aetiology. Records of patients over a period of 5 years (1998-2002), who sustained maxillofacial injuries and were treated at Kajang Hospital, a secondary referral hospital, were reviewed. Out of 313 patients with maxillofacial injuries, 295 patients sustained soft-tissue injuries. Males (79%) between 21 and 30 years old (34%) were the majority of patients. Road-traffic accident was the main cause of soft-tissue injuries (75%) with motorcycle accident being the most frequent (40%). The upper lips (23%) and the lower lips (18%) were the most common extraoral site involved, while the labial mucosa and sulcular areas, both accounting for 21%, were the most common intraoral sites. Stringent road-traffic regulations should be practiced in developing countries, as morbidity arising from road-traffic accidents poses a national economic and social problem.