Epidemiologic Analysis of Pediatric Maxillofacial Trauma and Review of
the Literature
Abstract
Background: The aim of the study is to make epidemiologic analysis of
pediatric maxillafacial traumas and discuss the mechanisms of injury,
etiology, treatment approaches and complications by comparing with adult
maxillofacial traumas. Method: Pediatric maxillofacial trauma patients
who presented to the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic
Surgery at our hospital, for 5 years between 2014 and 2018 were
evaluated retrospectively. Age and gender distributions of the patients
were determined. Duration of hospitalization, etiology of trauma,
location of the fracture, and treatment methods applied were determined,
and the results of these treatments and complications that developed
were evaluated. Results: The fractures were the most common at the age
of 17 years (17.2%). The most common cause of trauma in patients
operated for maxillofacial trauma was fall (48.3%). Most operations
were performed in the age range of 12–18 years (49.4%), and panfacial
fractures were the most frequently operated fracture localization
(27.58%). Conclusion: The simplest and most effective treatment should
be applied for pediatric maxillofacial trauma. While conservative
treatments may be sufficient in minimally displaced fractures, open
reduction and internal fixation methods are applied in fractures with
greater displacement. Fixation materials must necessarily be removed
since they prevent bone growth. The use of bioabsorbable plates has been
limited in recent years due to their high costs.