Facial and oral injuries in Brazilian children aged 5-17 years: 5-year review.

AIM: This was to assess causes of maxillofacial trauma using a retrospective study in Paraiba, Brazil.

METHODS: Records of 256 patients with maxillofacial injuries aged 5-17 years treated between January 2002 to May 2006 were analyzed according to sex, age, cause of injury, frequency of dentoalveolar trauma, intraoral soft tissue injury, frequency and site of facial fracture.

STATISTICS: Chi-square and Fisher's Exact Tests were used at a significance level of 5%; odds ratio (OR) with confidence intervals to 95% were calculated (IC95%).

RESULTS: Facial injuries were most frequent in males (78.1%) and in 13-17 year olds (60.9%); they tended to be more frequent during weekends (48%). Commonest causes were falls (37.9%) and traffic accidents (21.1%). Nasal fractures were most common (51.3%), followed by the zygomatic-orbital complex (25.4%); dentoalveolar injuries were present in 25.8% of cases. There was a positive association between facial fracture and dentoalveolar trauma, alveolar and tooth fracture, avulsion and intraoral soft tissue injury.

CONCLUSION: Accidental falls were found to be the leading cause of maxillofacial fractures, affecting males 3 times more than females.