Associated injuries in pediatric patients with facial fractures in Portugal: Analysis of 1416 patients

BackgroundThe authors performed a retrospective study to clarify the occurrence, causes, severity and predictors of concomitant injuries in pediatric patients with facial fractures in Portugal.MethodsThe clinical records of children and adolescents (0–18 years) with facial fractures treated by the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery and of Maxillofacial Surgery of São João Hospital, in Porto, Portugal, over a period of 20 years (1993–2012) were reviewed.ResultsA total of 1416 patients with facial fractures were included in this study. Concomitant injuries were observed in 1015 (71.7%) patients. No significant associations were found between sex and concomitant injury. Head and neck injuries other than facial fractures occurred in 962 patients (67.7%), lower limb injuries in 122 (8.6%), upper limb injuries in 115 (8.1%), thoracic injuries in 89 (6.3%) and abdominal injuries in 47 (3.3%). Concomitant injuries occurred more frequently after motor vehicle accidents (car accident, motorcycle accident and car–pedestrian accident) compared with other etiologies (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe incidence of these facial fractures and their concomitant injuries is very high in Portugal. It is necessary to continue with the implementation of control measures and educational programs for the population, so that the number and severity of accidents causing fractures and their associated injuries continue to decrease.