A Clinical Study On The Dental Emergency Patients Visiting Wonkwang Univ-Hospital Emergency Room

Lee, Dong Keun; Min, Seung Ki; Yang, Chan Young; Mun, Cheol; Kim, Jong Gu

Abstract

This is a retrospective clinical study on 3,243 patients who had visited the Emergency Room of Wonkwang University Hospital and then been treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery during recent 5 years from Jan. 1,1996 to Dec.31,2000.The obtained results were as follows : The total number of patients was 3,243 and the ratio of sex was 1.86:1.The highest monthly incidence was shown in October and March to 19%,and the age distribution peaks was the 3rd decade(24.7%),followed by the 1st(21.7%)and the 4th decade(15.7%). The percentage of admission were 4.8%.The frequent cause of admission were facial bone fracture(70%),infection(16%),soft tissue injury(14%). Trauma(70.9%)was the most frequent cause in dental emergency patients,odontogenic infection(24.3%),oral hemorrhage and TMJ dislocation were next in order of frequency. About the cause for trauma,traffic accident was the most,and fall down, slip down injury and assault were followed. Soft tissue injury group(56%)was the most prevalent, followed by tooth injury group(27%)and facial bone injury group(17%). In facial bone injury group, the mandibular fracture(55%)showed the highest incidence followed by zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture,nasal bone fracture,maxilla fracture, and zygomatic arch fracture. In the mandibular fracture,symphysis(40%)was the most common location followed by condyle(29.4%), angle(22.1%),and body area(8.5%). Tooth fracture showed the highest incidence as 35% followed by subluxation(29%), avulsion(20%), and concussion(16%). In infection patients group,the ratio of admission was 5.8%and the major visiting cause was acute pulpitis(32.3%). The major treatment method was the incision and drainage(30%)followed by endodontic treatment(28%),curettage(22%), extraction(7.8%),and so forth. In TMJ dislocation group, the highest incidence age was 3rd decade and 4th decade(51%). In post-operative bleeding group, the major cause of bleeding was non-fulfillment of doctor's instruction and bleeding was almost stoped by only gauze biting.