A SPECTRUM OF MAXILLOFACIAL FRACTURES IN FALLS DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISEASES

Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the medical etiologies leading to maxillofacial fractures and associated pattern of facial fractures.

Materials and Methods:

Patients who fell due to systemic diseases and had maxillofacial fractures with age ranging from 16-75 years presenting to the department of maxillofacial surgery at Khyber college of Dentistry, Peshawar from January 2017 to January 2020 were included. Patients who fell due to environmental reasons (fall from stairs, falls from heights and falls due to tripping, slipping and falls in patients who presented with preexisting maxillofacial bony pathologies or had chances of pathological fractures were excluded.

Results:

54 patients were males and 10 were females with age range from 16 to 64 years (Mean:46.61, SD±19.142). Epilepsy was the most common etiology of fall (28.1%), Parkinsonism in 26.6%; stroke; 21.9%, cardiac reasons 20.3% and antipsychotic drugs 3.1%. Patients with parkinsonism had 47.1% of mid face fractures, 47.1 % upper face fractures and 5.9% lower face fractures. Patients with stroke had 92.9% lower face fractures and 7.1% mid face fractures. Patients with epilepsy lower face fractures in 94.4% cases and mid face fractures in 5.6%. These differences were statistically significant (p value <0.001).

Conclusion:

Epilepsy was the most common cause of falls with predominantly mandible fractures. In Parkinson’s disease, upper and mid face fractures are more common. Mid face fracture is more common in patients who use antipsychotic drugs.