Maxillofacial Injuries at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Background: The aetiology and pattern of maxillofacail injuries vary in different parts of the world and even the same country. The purpose of the study was to determine the epidemiology of maxillofacial injuries at a tertiary Hospital in Ghana. Methodology: This is a six-month (January to June 2015) prospective study. Information on age, sex, aetiology, injury type etc. was collected using a specialized design data collection form. Data was analyzed using the SPSS 17th version. Ethical approval was obtained. Result: The total study sample was 111 with a male to female ratio of 2.5:1. Majority (34.2%) were within the ages of 21 to 30 years. Majority of the victims were urban dwellers. Most of the injuries occurred on the highway (42.3%) and in the evening (35.2%). Only a small percentage (5.4%) of the road traffic crashes (RTC) victims were in some form of protection. Twenty-one (18.9%) of the injuries were intentional, of which 18 (85.7%) were assault. The commonest maxillofacial injury was a combination of soft and hard tissues 72 (64.7%). The commonest cause of maxillofacial soft tissue injuries was RTC, 72.8%. Laceration (55.6%) was the most common soft tissue injury recorded. Mandibular fractures constituted the commonest hard tissue injuries. Conclusion: This study has shown that road traffic crashes are the most common cause of injuries to the maxillofacial region. The mandible is the most frequent site of fracture, while the commonest soft tissue injury is laceration. Majority of the victims were young energetic males and adherence to road traffic regulations was very low.