An analysis of 1,423 facial fractures in 788 patients at an urban trauma center

Mark Scherer, Walter G. Sullivan, David J. Smith, Linda G. Phillips, Martin C. Robson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

113 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hospital records of all patients presenting to a large urban trauma center emergency department with facial fractures from 1980 through 1984 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 788 patients in the study group, averaging 1.8 fractures per patient for a total of 1,423 facial fractures. The study population had 638 (80.9%) males and 150 (19.1%) females. Racial mix was 71.6% black, 27.8% white, and 0.6% oriental. The most frequent fracture involved the zygoma (23.6%), followed by the orbital floor (21.4%), maxilla, mandible, and nasal bones. The most frequent etiology was assault with a blunt object or fist (70.1%) followed by motor vehicle accidents (13.5%), falls (9.3%), and gunshot wounds (6.1%). Initial diagnostic procedures included a facial X- ray series in 99.9%, tomograms in 43.1%, and CT studies in 8.1%. Surgical intervention was required in 61.2% of cases. Prosthetic materials were used in 8.5% of the cases. At our institution, personal assault was found to be the primary cause of both midface fractures and mandibular fractures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)388-390
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1989
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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