Abstract
Pediatric trauma involving the bones of the face is associated with severe injury and disability. Although much is known about the epidemiology of facial fractures in adults, little is known about injury patterns and outcomes in children. The most common facial fractures were mandible, nasal and maxillary/zygoma. The most common mechanisms of injury are motor vehicle collisions, violence and falls. These fracture patterns and mechanisms of injury varies with age. Cranial and central facial injuries are more common among toddlers and infants, and mandible injuries are more common among adolescents. Although bony craniofacial trauma is relatively uncommon among the pediatric population, it remains a substantial source of mortality, morbidity and hospital admissions. Continued efforts toward injury prevention are warranted. An overview of various types of fractures and their management modalities is discussed, with case reports.How to cite this article: Mukherjee CG, Mukherjee U. Maxillofacial Trauma in Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2012;5(3):231-236.
Highlights
Injuries to the face are far more uncommon than other injuries in children
1.0% of facial fractures occur in children younger than 5 years, whereas 1.0 to 14.7% occurs in patients older than 16 years.[2]
The frontal protrusion of the cranium and the relative retrusion of the face generate a greater risk of skull fracture than of facial fracture from blunt frontal trauma; the skull absorbs the full force of the initial impact, ‘protecting’ the face
Summary
Pediatric facial injuries are usually minor, such as bruises, hematomas, lacerations or dental trauma. Trauma is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children, and injury remains the most common cause of death in children of 1 year of age and older. Facial trauma associated with severe injury are real challenges to surgeons, and there is subsequent functional and esthetic impact to the growing child and the economic and emotional burden to the patient and family can be overwhelming. Anatomic and developmental differences between pediatric patients and adults alter the diagnosis and management of injury.[1] This lower incidence of facial fractures partially reflects the underdeveloped facial skeleton and paranasal sinuses of preadolescent children leading to craniofacial disproportion and additional strength of the maxilla and mandible from unerupted dentition
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