Maxillofacial fractures in older patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the trends and characteristic features of maxillofacial fractures in older patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data from 247 patients aged 65 years old or older, who were treated for maxillofacial fractures at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University, from October 1981 to March 2010, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS: Of the 247 patients, 127 were men and 120 were women; 50 patients had been treated in the first third of the period, 87 in the second, and 110 in the third. Injury had most frequently occurred because of falling on a level surface (n = 126), followed by a traffic accident (n = 84). Of the fractures, 140 were in the mandible, 90 in the midface, and 17 in both. In the mandible, the fracture lines were most frequently observed at the condyle, followed by the body, exclusively in edentulous patients. In the midface, the zygoma was mostly involved. The facial injury severity scale score ranged from 1 to 10 (average 1.81). Injury at other sites of the body was found in 45 patients. Observation was most frequently chosen (n = 127), primarily for those of older age, followed by open reduction and internal fixation in 46 and maxillomandibular fixation in 41 patients. The facial injury severity scale score was greatest in patients treated by open reduction and internal fixation, followed by those treated by maxillomandibular fixation.

CONCLUSION: Maxillofacial fractures in older patients have been increasing and showed the characteristic features of etiology, patterns, and treatment modalities.