Epidemiology and management of Lefort fractures at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital of Lomé (Togo)

Abstract

IntroductionLefort fractures are lesions of the facial mass following violent trauma. They can be life-threatening and functionally dangerous in the short or long term. This study aimed to report the management of this type of fracture in our context. MethodologyThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, in the Department of Otolaryngology and Cervico-Maxillofacial Surgery at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital of Lomé. ResultsThe annual frequency was 15.2 cases. The average age of the patients was 34.43 ± 11.98 years with extremes of 15 and 70 years and a sex ratio of 9.13. The majority of patients were workers in the informal sector (44.08%). The etiologies were dominated by road traffic accidents (91.45%) and 28.29% of the patients were emergency cases on admission. Imaging showed 51.06% Lefort II fractures. Treatment was surgical in 99.34%, with screw plates (89.40%). Functional sequelae were reported in 5.92% of patients. ConclusionLefort fractures are common in young adult males after road traffic accidents. Their treatment is delicate and often leaves serious after-effects. Active measures for the prevention of these road traffic accidents are therefore necessary.