A retrospective study of trauma-associated oral and maxillofacial lesions in a population from southern Taiwan

Jing-Yi Chen,Wen-Chen Wang,Li-Min Lin,Yuk-Kwan Chen

doi:10.1590/s1678-77572010000100003

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this retrospective analysis was to determine the age, gender, frequency and distribution of trauma-associated hard tissue and soft tissue lesions of the oral and maxillofacial region in a population from southern Taiwan.Patients and MethodsApproximately 10% of the 27,995 biopsy records of patients with history of trauma resulting in lesions who were treated at our institution between 1991 and 2006 were examined for this study.ResultsIn the included records, there were 2,762 soft tissue and 26 hard tissue lesions. Mucocele was the most frequent trauma-associated soft tissue lesion (955 cases). The youngest patients were those who presented with mucocele (mean age = 27.3 years), while the oldest patients were those with peripheral giant cell granuloma (58 years). The lower lip was the most frequent site of occurrence of mucocele (676, 64.5%) and was also the predominant site of occurrence of all soft tissue lesions (815, 29.5%), followed by the buccal mucosa (654, 23.4%) and the tongue (392, 14.2%). Trauma-associated hard tissue lesions included only osteoradionecrosis (24 cases) and traumatic bone cysts (2 cases).ConclusionAs little data of this nature have been reported from populations of Asian developing countries, the findings of this retrospective analysis is valuable for epidemiological documentation of type of traumatic oral lesions as well as for informing the professionals and the layman about the importance of this category of oral lesions.

Highlights

Trauma can be divided into mechanical, thermal and chemical injuries
A total of 2,788 oral biopsies performed between 1991 and 2006 with a confirmed history of trauma related to head neck area recorded by the clinicians were classified as trauma-associated soft tissue or hard tissue lesions
Accidental biting, trauma by hand-held implements, and other traumatic oral habits, such as lip biting or sucking would be among the major causes of these three soft tissue traumatic lesions

Summary

Introduction

Trauma can be divided into mechanical, thermal and chemical injuries. Injuries sustained during the course of routine daily activities or in motor vehicle accidents accounts for the large majority of trauma-associated lesions occurring in the oral and maxillofacial region5,16. The review of the English-language literature, show that studies of trauma-associated lesions of the oral and maxillofacial area in populations of Asian developing countries are relatively uncommon, and those that do exist are mostly limited to studies of jawbone fractures4,9 or traumatic injuries to teeth2.

Results

Conclusion