Changes in the characteristics of facial fractures in children and adolescents in Portugal 1993-2012

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Ferreira, P (Author) Other; Barbosa, J (Author) FMUP; Amarante J (Author) FMUP; Insua Pereira, I (Author) Other; Soares, C (Author) Other; Silva, A (Author) Other

Journal

Title: BRITISH JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Vol. 53

Pages: 251-256

ISSN: 0266-4356

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 14 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-812

DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2014.12.002

Abstract (EN): We investigated the changes in the characteristics of facial fractures in children and adolescents during a 20-year period in Portugal to try to find out how to prevent such fractures in future. We reviewed the clinical records of patients aged 0-18 years old who had facial fractures treated at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Sao Joao Hospital, Porto, during the 20-year period 1993-2012. The patients were divided into two 10-year periods: January 1993 to December 2002, and January 2003 to December 2012, and these were compared and analysed. A total of 1416 patients with 2071 fractures were diagnosed. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the number of patients treated during the two decades. In both groups the number of patients increased with increasing age (p < 0.001), and there was a male preponderance in all age groups. Motor vehicle collisions were the main cause of the fractures, and the mandible was the most common site (49.7%). Other injuries were recorded in 1015 patients (71.7%), and the head and neck was the most common site in both decades. Facial fractures in children are usually associated with severe trauma, and their characteristics can be influenced by social and economic factors. Although the number of children injured has decreased significantly during the last decade, facial fractures remain common in Portugal.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6