Maxillofacial Fractures Resulting From Falls

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze maxillofacial fractures resulting from falls in terms of the demographics, the circumstance of injury, the site and severity of fracture, and the treatment. Patients and Methods Data of 457 patients treated for fall-related maxillofacial fractures at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan, from 1981 to 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Patients were 163 males and 116 females with an average age of 51.3 years who had fallen on a level surface (simple fall), and 110 males and 68 females with an average age of 31.9 years in falls from a greater height (fall from height), respectively. Fractures of the mandible were more frequently observed than those of the midface. In the mandible, fracture lines were exclusively observed at the condyle, especially in simple falls. In the midface, the zygoma was most frequently involved. Facial Injury Severity Scale ranged from 1 to 6, with an average of 1.78 in simple falls, and from 1 to 9, with an average of 2.04 in falls from height, respectively. These were dependent on the causes and height of the fall. Fractures at the other sites of the body were found in 14 patients (5.0%) with simple falls and 38 (21.3%) with falls from height. Maxillomandibular fixation was most frequently chosen for mandibular fractures and observation for midface fractures. Open reduction and fixation was more frequently chosen in patients with falls from height than those with simple falls and in patients with a higher Facial Injury Severity Scale score. Conclusions Maxillofacial fractures resulting from falls showed characteristic features in the demographics, the circumstance of injury, and the site and severity of fracture. Treatment was chosen according to these features.