Citation

Moore BK, Smit R, Colquhoun A, Thompson WM. N. Zeal. Med. J. 2015; 128(1426): 96-102.

Affiliation

5th year medical student, University of Otago, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand. blakemoore946@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, New Zealand Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

26913913

Abstract

Injury to the maxillofacial region continues to place a burden on hospital care in New Zealand, with maxillofacial fractures often being associated with both a significant social cost and personal morbidity. This article describes the characteristics, aetiology and treatment patterns in a tertiary maxillofacial centre in New Zealand during a 10-year period. Over the observation period, a total of 1,975 cases were treated, with a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. The highest incidence was in the 20-29-year-age group. Interpersonal violence (IPV) was the most common aetiology, observed in 54.5% overall, and more common among males than females (58% and 38% respectively; P<0.001). Falls were the most common cause of injury among older females (those aged 50+). Comparison to an earlier analysis shows that IPV-related maxillofacial trauma has increased significantly at this tertiary centre, increasing from 36.2% of cases in 1989-2000, to 54.5% in 2004-2013. There remains an urgent need for appropriate health promotion to reduce interpersonal violence, as well as an increase in the staffing numbers of maxillofacial units in New Zealand.

Language: en