An Audit of Maxillofacial Trauma Patients Treated In a New Tertiary Center in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Oral and Maxillofacial surgical care began in the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital barely 2 years ago. Very little has been known about the pattern of maxillofacial injuries in Port-Harcourt and some neighbouring states in the Niger-Delta region. This audit was undertaken to provide a baseline data on the prevalence and pattern of maxillofacial injuries in this area, to compare the findings with reports from other well researched region of Nigeria, to assess the use of the new facility, and to investigate whether or not the recent increase in the spate of violence in the Niger-Delta region has reflected in the incidence and pattern of maxillofacial injuries treated at the new center. Methodology: Demographic information was collated from the maxillofacial trauma book of the new department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery at the University of Port-Harcourt. The case record files of patients were retrieved and details about patients, injuries and treatments were collected and analyzed. Results: Thirty nine trauma patients were seen over the two years of existence of the department, The age range was 5-65 years, mean 29.3 + SD 11.8 years, the modal age range was 21-30 years. The male-to-female ratio was 6.8:1. Road traffic crashes accounted for most cause of the injuries [14 VRTA (35.9%) and 11 MVRTA (28.2%)], mandibular fracture was commonest type (51.7%), the average intervention interval was 2 weeks, most cases were treated under local anaesthesia. Intermaxillary fixation was the commonest method of treatment and suffices for all isolated mandibular fractures but was complemented with internal wire suspension and open reduction and internal fixation with interosseous wires in patient with middle third fractures. Conclusion: The pattern of maxillofacial injuries did not differ from what has been reported elsewhere in Nigeria, The new facility was yet to be well patronized probably due to lack of awareness, and there was no reflection of the current increase in violence in the region on the incidence and pattern of maxillofacial injuries seen at the center.