MECHANISM OF INJURY - A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT IN EVALUATION OF MAXILLOFACIAL TRAUMATIC PATIENTS STATUS

Abstract

Knowing the injury mechanisms is of extreme importance for correct diagnostic evaluation. Specific injury models can be related to exactly determine trauma mechanisms. Understanding the way of injury may be a key to solving the occult injuries. Thus, some life threatening injuries may be diagnosed without present clinical symptoms at the moment of examination. Purpose: The aim of our study is to analyse the risk factors for arising of associated maxillofacial trauma injuries (AMFI) Material and methods: A total of 352 traumatic patients were retrospectively and prospectively examined for the period 05.2005 - 12.2011, treated at the Department of Oral and maxillofacial surgery at the St. Anna University Hospital, Sofia, whereas AMFI were determined in 129 patients Results: Our study results indicate that most often, RTA are a reason for a combined trauma at the age group of 20-29, followed by the age group of 30-39, and less in the age group of 40-49. The most often reasons for combined traumas are RTA(road traffic accident) and IPV(interpersonal violence), each of which has a relative share, significantly higher than the other reasons (x2, ð<0.001). Our study results indicate that following a RTA, the most common combined trauma is CrT - 31 patients, followed by muscular skeletal system trauma - 11, equal number of eye injuries and polytrauma – 4 patients, spinal cord trauma - 1, and more than one concomitant injury - 1. When analyzing the mutual relation between aetiology and combined trauma, the most common reasons are included (RTA and thrash) as well as combined traumas (neurosurgical, MSS trauma and eye trauma). Conclusion: Data analysis in our study indicates that trauma mechanism is the most important factor that imposes the need of CT examination, especially in intoxicated and disorientated patients, as well as in unconscious patients.