Risk Factors for Cervical Spine Injury in Patients With Mandibular Fractures.

PURPOSE: Patients with mandibular fractures are known to be at risk of concomitant cervical spine injuries (CSIs). The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for CSIs in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult trauma patients with mandibular fractures from June 1, 2007, through June 30, 2017. Patients were identified through the Massachusetts General Hospital trauma registry and were included as study patients if they had a mandibular fracture and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine. The primary predictor variable was the site of the mandibular fracture; the primary outcome variables were the presence of CSIs and death. The other variables were demographic characteristics (age, gender, alcohol use, and drug use), Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Scale, presence of midface and extra-craniofacial injuries, and etiology. Data analysis consisted of univariate correlations and construction of a multivariate model to determine independent risk factors for CSIs.

RESULTS: Of 23,394 patients in the trauma registry, 3,950 (17%) had craniomaxillofacial fractures and 1,822 (7.7%) had CSIs. The frequency of CSIs in the overall cohort of mandibular fracture patients (n = 1,147) was 4.4%, and for admitted patients (n = 495), it was 10%. The mean age of patients with mandibular fractures plus CSIs was 40 years (range, 19 to 93 years); 84% were men. Patients with a ramus-condyle unit fracture, mandibular fracture plus any midface fracture, non-craniomaxillofacial injury, and motor vehicle crash etiology had the highest frequency of CSIs. Ramus-condyle unit fractures and chest injuries were independent risk factors for CSIs in the multivariate model (P = .0334 and P = .0013, respectively). The mortality rate was 4-fold higher in patients with CSIs versus those without CSIs.

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ramus-condyle unit fractures and the presence of chest injuries were independent risk factors for CSIs. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons should be diligent in ruling out CSIs in mandibular fracture patients.