Review of 509 mandibular fractures treated at the University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt

Mandibular fracture is one of the most common facial skeletal injuries. Although its main causes are road crashes and violence, the relation between these causes varies from one country to another. We made a retrospective study of the medical records and radiographs of 509 patients treated for mandibular fracture at the University of Alexandria Hospital between 1991 and 2000. The data that we collected included age, sex, aetiology, date of injury, anatomical site of the fracture, associated maxillofacial trauma, and treatment. The prevalence of mandibular fractures was higher in male subjects in all age groups, and the male:female ratio was 3.6:1. Most fractures were sustained by men in the age group 21–30 years and girls between 0 and 10 years, and the monthly incidence was constant. Road crashes were the main cause, followed by falls and assaults. Fractures of the angle were the most common (22%) followed by parasymphyseal fractures (21%) and the lowest was in the coronoid region (1%).