Maxillofacial fractures associated with motor vehicle accidents: A review of the current literature

ObjectiveThe aim of this article was to review and discuss papers that were published during the past 30 years regarding the distribution and characteristics of motor vehicle accidents-related facial injuries throughout the world.MethodsWe systematically reviewed all papers that were published in English between January 1980 and December 2013 using MEDLINE and the MeSH term “facial fractures” together with the term “motor vehicle”.ResultsThe percentage of motor vehicle accidents as an etiological factor in epidemiological studies about maxillofacial injuries ranged between 11% and 85%. On the whole, a progressively decreasing trend was observed, particularly in North America, Brazil, and Europe.DiscussionMotor vehicle accidents are still one of the most important etiological factors for maxillofacial injuries. A great difference in the incidence of this kind of fractures between developed countries and developing countries can be observed.