Abstract

PREVALANCE OF PEDIATRIC MAXILLOFACIAL FRACTURES IN CHILDREN LESS THAN 15 YEARS OF AGE IN VISAKHAPATNAM: A 3 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

S. Gokkulakrishnan*, Ashish Gaur and R. Muralidharan

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the etiology, incidence, type of fracture and treatment provided for pediatric patients who encountered maxillofacial injuries in Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh. Study design: This retrospective review of patient records was conducted during the 3-year period between 2012- 2015. Age, gender, etiology, type of fracture, family income, number of siblings and treatment methods were reviewed. Results: During this 3 year period, 60 patients below 15 years of age were reviewed, out of which 65% were males and 35% were females. Mandible was the most commonly involved bone in fractures (85%) followed by dentoalveolar segment (10%) and maxiilary bone (5%). Within mandible, parasymphysis was more commonly involved (44.11%) followed by condyle (38.23%), body (11.76%) and symphysis (5.88%). Fall was the most frequent etiology (55%), followed by road traffic accidents (28.33 %) and sport injuries (16.66 %). Most of the patients belonged to the income score 1 (poor socio-economic status) followed by score 2 and 3. Hence, most of the patients in our study belonged to lower socio-economic group. Majority of cases (43.33%) were treated with circum mandibular wiring using cap/acrylic splint and second most common mode of management was IMF (40%). Conclusion: The differences noted in etiology of injury, fracture patterns and associated injuries between different genders and age groups likely reflects the differing activities that each group engages in predominantly and also on the family income.

Keywords: Pediatric patients, Mandible fracture, Family income, Maxillofacial injury, Condylar fracture.