PATTERN OF MAXILLOFACIAL INJURIES IN THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

Maxillofacial Injuries

Abstract

Objectives: To observe the pattern of Maxillofacial injuries in Earthquake victims and to discuss their management.

Design: Descriptive Study

Place and Duration: This study was conducted at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry (AFID), Rawalpindi over a period of six months following the 8th October, 2005 Earthquake.

Patients and Methods: 176 patients who sustained maxillofacial injuries during the earthquake were included in this study. The pattern of maxillofacial injuries and their management was documented.

Results: Out of the 176 patients, 141 (80.11%) had fractures of the maxillofacial bones. The remaining 35 (19.89%) patients sustained minor maxillofacial injuries e.g. soft tissue injuries, dentoalveolar fractures and temporomandibular joint arthritis / dislocation. Isolated mandibular fractures were seen in 64 (36.4%) patients. Fifty-seven (32.4%) patients had multiple fractures of the facial bones. Zygomatic bone was fractured in 18 (10.2%) patients whereas 02 (1.1%) patients had isolated fracture of the maxilla. Fifty-nine (41.8%) patients were treated by closed reduction and IMF, 55 (39%) patients by open reduction and transosseous wire fixation in addition to IMF and 27 (19.1%) cases by open reduction and miniplate osteosynthesis. Postoperative complications were noticed in 18 (10.2%) of the patients.

Conclusion: Multiple fractures of the facial bones were far more common than the routine trauma cases. The magnitude of the disaster dictated simple and timesaving conventional methods of management in majority of the cases.