The pattern of maxillofacial fractures in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates: a review of 230 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Maxillofacial injuries constitute a substantial proportion of cases of trauma. This descriptive analytical study assesses the cause, type, incidence, demographic, and treatment data of maxillofacial fractures managed at Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, during a 4-year period and compares them with the existing body of literature on the subject.

STUDY DESIGN: The medical records and radiographs of 230 patients treated for maxillofacial fractures at the Al Qassimi General Hospital over a 4-year period (from 1999 to 2002) were reviewed. A number of parameters, including the patient's age, gender, race, occupation, and mechanism of injury, type of facial injuries, treatment modality, and postoperative complications were recorded and assessed.

RESULTS: Men 20 to 29 years of age sustained the most maxillofacial fractures. The ratio of males to females was 11:1. Most fractures were caused by motor vehicle crashes (75%), followed by falls (12%) and violent assaults (8%). There were 150 (51%) mandibular, 102 (34%) maxillary, and 22 (7.4%) zygomatic fractures. Regarding distribution of mandibular fractures, the majority (25%, 38/150) occurred in the condyle, 23% (35/150) in the angle, and 20% (30/150) in the body. The distribution of maxillary fractures were 49.0% (50/102) dentoalveolar, 29.4% (30/102) Le Fort I, and 10.7% (11/102) were Le Fort II fractures. More than half of all cases were treated by closed reduction (67%). Complications occurred in 5.6% of patients.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study, compared with similar studies reported in the literature, support the view that the causes and incidence of maxillofacial injuries vary from one country to another and, as such, can provide a guide to the design of programs geared toward prevention and treatment.