Etiology and incidence of maxillofacial fractures in the north of Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this investigation was to determine the causes and incidence of maxillofacial fractures in the country of Jordan.

DESIGN: A retrospective review of patient records and radiographs for the 5-year period from 1992 to 1997 was conducted. Data regarding age, gender, cause of fracture, anatomic site, and treatment modalities were reviewed.

RESULTS: During the 5-year period, 563 patients with 756 maxillofacial fractures were treated. The age range was 5 to 73 years (mean, 28.8 years). Of the 563 patients, 75.3% were male, with the peak incidence occurring in the age group 20 to 29 years. The bone of fracture was most frequently the mandible (seen in 419 cases, or 74.4% of the total), followed by the maxilla (76 cases; 13.5%), the zygomatic arch (60 cases; 10.7%), and the alveolar process (8 cases; 1.4%). Of the fractures, 55.2% were due to traffic accidents, 19.7% to accidental falls, and 16.9% to assaults. Most patients (82.3%) were treated by closed reduction surgery (45.2% with eyelet wiring; 54.8% with arch bars and intermaxillary fixation). Only 17.7% of patients were treated by open reduction surgery. All maxillary fractures were treated by orbital and circumzygomatic suspension with interdental wiring and intermaxillary fixation. Of the zygomatic complex fractures, 26 cases were treated with Gillies' temporal approach, 20 with percutaneous hook elevation, and 14 with observation alone.

CONCLUSION: The findings support the view that both the causes and the incidence of maxillofacial fractures vary from one country to another.