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

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.

Paediatric mandibular fracture-a diagnostic challenge?

The purpose of this study was to clarify the frequency of missed mandibular fractures and to identify possible predictive factors for missed diagnosis. This was a retrospective study that included patients <20 years of age with a recent mandibular fracture. The outcome variable was missed mandibular fracture, which was determined when a fracture was not suspected or diagnosed during the patient's first assessment in primary healthcare. The primary predictor variable was age group (i.e. children <13 years or teenagers/adolescents aged 13-19 years). The explanatory variables were sex, mechanism of injury, and type of facial facture. Other variables were clinical symptoms and findings. Mandibular fracture was missed at first contact in 27 of 182 patients (14.8%). Fracture was missed significantly more often in patients <13 years than in older patients (33.3% vs. 8.8%, P<0.001). The only significant symptom or clinical finding that was associated with missed fractures was skin wound of the jaw (P=0.009). There was no association between missed fracture and sex or mechanism of injury. Mandibular fractures in children are often missed at the first healthcare contact. Careful examination is necessary in paediatric mandibular injuries, particularly in the youngest age groups. Consultation should be smooth between paediatric trauma units and maxillofacial surgeons.

Correlation Between Soft Tissue Injury and the Type of Nasal Fracture Based on Stranc-Robertson Classification

Nasal fractures are the most common facial bone fractures, and soft tissue injuries are frequently accompanied. This study intends to make a deep analysis on the relationship between the 2.Patients diagnosed with nasal fracture between 2015 and 2017 were included. Patients younger than 17 years and those with previous facial fractures or aesthetic surgeries were excluded. Nasal fractures were classified according to the Stranc-Robertson (S-R) classification, and the severity of soft tissue injury was evaluated by length and depth. The authors compared the frequency of soft tissue injury between frontal and lateral groups. Second, the authors investigated whether the incidence of soft tissue injuries increases as a function of the increase in the S-R classification both in frontal and lateral group (from plane I to III). The authors also analyzed the difference in severity of soft tissue injuries in each group. Pearson chi-square analysis, linear by linear and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests were used for statistical analysis.Of 621 patients, 296 were frontal plane and 325 were lateral plane. The frontal group had a higher incidence of soft tissue injury than the lateral group (P = 0.004). The incidence of soft tissue injury and severity by depth increased as a function of the increase in the S-R classification only in the frontal group (P = 0.046, 0.019).In nasal fractures, frontal impact is more associated with frequency and severity of soft tissue injury than lateral impact. This seems to be related to the anatomical characteristics of nasal area and mechanism of injuries in each group.

Effects of loss of consciousness on maxillofacial fractures in simple falls

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Loss of consciousness while falling is reported to increase the risk of more severe injury. However, few studies of maxillofacial injuries have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of loss of consciousness on maxillofacial fractures in falls on a level surface (simple falls).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with maxillofacial fractures caused by simple falls were subdivided into two categories: patients who fell without loss of consciousness and patients who fell with loss of consciousness, according to the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Syncope (version 2009). The severity of the injuries was compared between these two groups.

RESULTS

In 413 patients with maxillofacial fractures, 58 cases were falls without loss of consciousness, and 44 cases were falls with loss of consciousness. In falls with loss of consciousness, 54.5% were reflex syncope, followed by syncope due to orthostatic hypotension (15.9%), epilepsy (15.9%), and cardiac syncope (9.1%). The average number of fracture lines in the mandible was significantly lower in falls without loss of consciousness (1.53 ± 0.7) than in falls with loss of consciousness (2.00 ± 1.00) (P = 0.045). The average Facial Injury Severity Scale score was lower in falls without loss of consciousness (2.24 ± 1.20) than in falls with loss of consciousness (2.68 ± 1.39). Fractures of other parts of the body were significantly more common in falls without loss of consciousness (22.2%) than in falls with loss of consciousness (9.1%) (P = 0.0135).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with loss of consciousness and maxillofacial fractures due to simple falls showed a tendency to sustain more severe maxillofacial injuries than those without loss of consciousness.

Maxillofacial Fractures due to Falls: does Fall Modality Determine the Pattern of Injury?

Objectives

In several epidemiological studies of maxillofacial trauma, falls were one of the most frequent causes of facial injury. The aim of this study is to analyse the patterns of fall-related maxillofacial injuries based on the height of the fall.

Material and Methods

Using a systematic computer-assisted database of patients hospitalised with maxillofacial fractures, only those with fall-related injuries were considered. The falls were divided into four groups: falls from slipping, tripping or stumbling (STSF), loss of consciousness (LOCF), stairs (SAF), and height (HF). Data on the age, gender, fracture site, Facial Injury Severity Scale (FISS), facial lacerations, associated lesions, type of treatment, and length of hospital stay were also analysed.

Results

This study included 557 patients (338 males, 219 females; average age 51.5 years [range 4 - 99 years]). In the over 60 age group, females were more prevalent in STSF than males. According to aetiology, STSF was the most frequent cause of maxillofacial fractures (315 patients; 56.5%) followed by LOCF (157; 28.2%), HF (55; 9.9%), and SAF (30; 5.4%). The middle third of the face was affected most frequently. After LOCF, however, the inferior third was prevalently involved. The majority of associated fractures, as well as the most severe injuries and greatest rate of facial lacerations, occurred secondary to HF.

Conclusions

This study showed that fracture severity and site are influenced not only by patient age, but also by the nature of the fall.

Clinical outcomes of surgical management of anterior bilateral mandibular fractures

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to assess the clinical outcomes of patients with anterior bifocal mandibular fractures and to discuss the management of this peculiar type of trauma.

METHODS

From the systematic computer-assisted database that has continuously recorded patients hospitalized with maxillofacial fractures, only patients admitted with anterior bifocal bilateral mandibular fractures between 2001 and 2011 were considered. Patients were contacted, and they were invited to volunteer for a clinical follow-up examination. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Forty dentate patients with anterior bifocal bilateral mandibular fractures (without the presence of further mandibular fractures) were included in the study. Nineteen patients with dislocated anterior segment underwent surgical intervention within 12 hours from hospital admission in the emergency department, whereas 21 patients with nondisplaced mandibular fractures were surgically treated in the elective operating room within 72 hours. Only 3 patients underwent tracheostomy. All patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation with 2.0- and 2.4-mm plates via intraoral approach, except for patients with submental or submandibular facial lacerations.

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior bifocal bilateral mandibular fractures may involve a challenging management because they can compromise the upper airway. Accurate reduction and internal fixation of these fractures have been critical to restoring form and function of the mandible. The upper airway management and securing always take first, but a prompt surgical intervention of dislocated fractures avoids upper airways impairment.