Etiology and patterns of mandibular fractures

Chung, Il Hyuk; Han, Ki Deok; Suh, Je Duck; Hwang, Kyung Gyun

Abstract

This study investigated the mandibular fractures that were treated at the Seoul National University Boramae Hospital in order to analyze the characteristics of mandibular fractures and the relationship between the causes and injury patterns. A total of 141 patients with mandibular fractures who were treated between 1996 and 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. The male to female ratio in the patient group was 5.13:1, and the mean age was 33.7 years. The most common etiologic factor was assaults (45.4%), and which was followed by activities associated with daily-life (40.4%) includeding falls, stumbling, collisions, and traffic accidents (11.3%). Single fracture sites were present in 75 patients (53.2%), two or more fracture sites were observed in other patients, and a total of 211 fracture sites were observed. The mandibular angle fractures (46.7%) was the most common in case of single fractures, and symphysis and angle fractures (45.4%) was most common in multiple fractures. Through out overall fracture sites, the most common fracture site was the symphysis (41.2%), followed by the angle (32.2%) and condyle (18.5%). Among assault and falls-related injuries, the common involving sites were the symphysis, and followed by the body and condyle. In case of traffic accidents, the symphysis fracture was the most common, and which was followed by the condyle and angle fractures. This study documented the characteristics of the mandibular fractures. The results demonstrate that preventive measures according to these characteristics will need to be implemented in order to minimize the risk of maxillofacial injuries.