Citation

Kotecha S, Scannell J, Monaghan A, Williams RW. Br. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. 2008; 46(4): 293-296.

Affiliation

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Diana Princess of Wales Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.bjoms.2007.11.011

PMID

18177983

Abstract

AIMS: To examine the nature of maxillofacial injuries that presented to the Birmingham Children's Hospital according to aetiology, incidence and characteristics of patients. METHODS: The maxillofacial unit at Diana Princess of Wales Birmingham Children's Hospital serves a catchment area of 5.2 million. We examined all children who presented with maxillofacial trauma from 2002 to 2006. Details including characteristics of patients and aetiology and nature of injury, were entered prospectively into a database. RESULTS: The total number of patients who presented was 1062. The ratio of boys to girls was 2:1. The main reason for attendance was a fall (70%). 149 (17%) patients presented after interpersonal violence. Soft tissue injuries accounted for 70% of injuries and 14% presented with a maxillofacial fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the range and mechanism of presenting injuries have not changed within the time frame. Despite public perception of increasing interpersonal violence, this was not reflected in our series of patients.

Language: en