ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Journal of Maxillofacial Trauma 2014 April;3(1):17-21

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Maxillofacial trauma and its association with alcohol and violence: a two-year audit from St Vincent’s Hospital

van der Rijt R., Ting F., Moisidis E.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia

AIM: This retrospective audit aims to assess the demographics, incidence, and treatment data of all the maxillofacial fractures that required operative management at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney over a two year period.
METHODS: The medical records and radiographs of 145 patients that required operative management for maxillofacial fractures at St Vincent’s Hospital over a 2 year period (2012-2013) were reviewed. Data collected included age, gender, demographics, mechanism of injury, pattern of injury, treatment required, association with alcohol, time and place of injury, and long-term complications.
RESULTS: A total of 145 maxillofacial fractures were treated operatively at St Vincent’s Hospital in the two - year period. 62.3% were due to assaults, 19.8% were due to falls and the remainder were due to motor vehicle accidents, cycling accidents and sporting accidents. A large proportion, 91 of 145 patients, were allegedly assaulted, and from this, 30 patients were allegedly received a “coward punch”. The average age was 30.5 years with a range of 16-57 years. 87 (95.6%) were male and 4 (4.4%) were female. 73.6% of the alleged assaults subgroup were intoxicated whilst 86.6% of the “king hit” subgroup were intoxicated. 68 percent of the injuries occurred over the weekend period and 83.5% occurred between the hours of 20:00 and 06:00.
CONCLUSION: This audit demonstrates a clear correlation with maxillofacial trauma, alcohol and violence. As such, it can provide and guide for primary preventative measures.