@article{ref1,
title="A 3-year survey of assault-related maxillofacial fractures in central Switzerland",
journal="Journal of craniomaxillofacial surgery",
year="2007",
author="Iizuka, T. and Zimmermann, Heinz and Scheidegger, Benedict and Smolka, Koord and Eggensperger, Nicole",
volume="35",
number="3",
pages="161-167",
abstract="AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse the character of assault-related facial fractures in central Switzerland and to compare their prevalence with the data presented in similar reports from other countries. MATERIAL: The present study comprised 65 patients with assault-related maxillofacial fractures treated in the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Bern between 2000 and 2002. METHODS: The mechanism, the causes of the injuries and the location of the fractures were analysed by reviewing emergency and hospital records. Concomitant injuries were also studied. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 33 years with the largest group being below 25 years. The male-to-female ratio was 56:9. The most common causes of assault-related injuries were fights, most frequently facial blows, accounting for 92.5% of all patients. Seventy-six per cent of the fractures occurred in the middle and upper facial skeleton with a predominance of 2:1 for the left side. In 39 patients (60%) surgery was necessary, with a mean hospital stay of 3.3 days. Thirty-five patients (54%) had concomitant injuries. Alcohol and drug abuse was found in 15 patients (23%). CONCLUSION: It seems that mostly young men suffer assault-related maxillofacial injuries. A contributing factor to the increased disposition for violence could be alcohol and drug abuse. Therefore, national prevention programmes for alcohol or drug abuse and addiction might have a positive effect on reducing the incidence of assault-related maxillofacial injuries.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1010-5182",
doi="10.1016/j.jcms.2007.01.002",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcms.2007.01.002"
}