The different patterns of fractures of the facial skeleton in four European countries.

A series of 1,420 Dutch patients with facial fractures was compared with series from three other European countries. Special attention is paid to the patterns of the facial fractures and the cause of those injuries. The majority of the fractures in all four countries were caused by traffic accidents. The age of the Dutch patients at the time of accident as well as the localization of the mandibular fractures differed from the ages and localizations of the patients in the other three countries. Manifold associated injuries occurred in combination with facial fractures. The need for treatment of facial fractures in well-equipped centers is important and cooperation with other specialiies is very often necessary.