Maxillofacial fractures in children.

Maxillofacial fractures in Japanese children were retrospectively analyzed. The subjects were 287 patients aged 15 years and younger seeking treatment for maxillofacial fractures in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University. The patients were 186 males and 101 females. Injuries most frequently occurred as a result of traffic accidents in 125 patients, 92 of which were bicycle-related accidents. Injuries by falling from one level to another were found in 49, primarily in younger children. One hundred seventy-nine fractures occurred in the mandible, 100 in the midface, and 8 in both. In the mandible, fractures most frequently occurred in condyle followed by symphysis. In the midface, alveolus was mostly involved. The facial injury severity scale ranged from 1 to 9 with an average of 1.83 and was higher in traffic accidents. Injury to other sites of the body was found in 33 patients, 28 of which occurred in traffic accidents. Observation was most frequently chosen in 84 patients. Intramaxillary fixation was chosen in 79, primarily for alveolar fractures and in younger children. Maxillomandibular fixation was chosen in 62 for mandibular fractures in older children. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed in 40, primarily in older children. The facial injury severity scale was higher in patients treated by open reduction and internal fixation and maxillomandibular fixation. Maxillofacial fractures in Japanese children showed characteristic features primarily depending on their age in terms of etiology, patterns, and treatment modalities.