Pattern and prevalence of maxillofacial fractures in rural children of central maharashtra, India. A retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to review the pattern and prevalence of maxillofacial fractures occurring in rural children, at Rural Dental College and Hospital, Loni, Central Maharashtra, India. A retrospective analysis of patient records and radiographs was conducted during the 5 year period between January 2005 and December 2010. Data were identified and analysed based on age group, gender and anatomic site. During the 5 year period, 156 patients with 163 maxillofacial fractures were reviewed, males formed 70 % and females formed 30 % of studied population with the peak incidence rate occurring in 10-12-year old age group. The most common fracture site in maxilla was dentoalveolar component (70 %) and in mandible common fracture site was condyle (40.9 %). Of the fractures, 43 % were from accidental fall, 24.3 % from assaults, 16 % from road traffic accidents, 13.5 % from sporting injuries and 3.2 % from other causes such as animal injuries. Our results exhibit that accidental falls were the leading cause of maxillofacial fractures, and males were three times more affected than females. There is variation of incidence and pattern of maxillofacial injuries from region to region.