A retrospective study of selected oral and maxillofacial fractures in a group of Jordanian children

Objective. The purpose of this study was to review the etiology, incidence, and treatment of selected oral and maxillofacial fractures in children in Jordan. Study design. This retrospective review of patient records and radiographs was conducted during the 5-year period between 1996 and 2001. Age, gender, etiology, anatomic site, and treatment methods were reviewed. Results. During the 5-year period, 227 patients with 274 maxillofacial fractures were treated. The age range was from I to 15 years (mean age, 11.2 years). Of the patients, 70% were male, with the peak incidence rate occurring in the 10-year-old to 12-year-old age group. The mandible was the most frequent bone of fracture, with 169 cases (74.5%), followed by the alveolar process in 28 cases (12.3%), the maxilla in 27 cases (11.9%), and the zygomatic complex in 3 cases (1.3%). Of the fractures, 52% were from accidental falls, 20% from road traffic accidents, 17% from assaults, 8% from sport injuries, and 3% from other causes, such as horse kick. Most patients (82.3%) were treated with closed reduction (45.2% with eyelet wiring and 54.8% with arch bars and intermaxillary fixation). Only 17.7% of patients were treated with open reduction and fixation. All maxillary fractures were treated with orbital and circumzygomatic suspension with interdental wiring and intermaxillary fixation. The 3 cases of zygomatic complex fractures were kept under observation without the necessity of surgical intervention. Conclusion. Accidental falls were found to be the leading cause of maxillofacial fractures in our environment, and males were 3 times more affected than females.