Epidemiology of facial fractures: an analysis of 349 patients

Abstract

Introduction : Facial fractures epidemiology varies with geographic region. Patients and methods : This study reports the frequency, demographic characteristics and aetiologies of facial fractures in a 5-year retrospective survey, in Burkina Faso. Results : In 349 patients, the fracture involved the mandible (44.5%), the zygomatic complex (38.9%), the maxilla (13.8%) or the naso-fronto-orbito-ethmoidal complex (2.8%). The peak of frequency (58.2%) was recorded between 20 and 39 years and the male to female ratio was 7.1:1. The aetiologies of the fractures were road traffic crashes (80.5%), assaults (9.7%), falls (8.3%), and sport accidents (1.5%). In 80% of the road traffic accidents, a two-wheeled vehicle was involved and 75.9% of falls were from a tree height. There was a significant association between multiple facial fractures and road traffic accidents. Discussion : Epidemiology of facial fractures in this study is similar to that generally reported in developing countries. Frequency of falls from trees height constitutes however a particularity. These findings illustrate the necessity of enforcement of road traffic security, as well as a development of program of prevention of falls from trees, in Burkina Faso.