Background: Maxillofacial injuries pose a therapeutic challenges to trauma, maxillofacial and plastic surgeons
practicing in developing countries. This study was carried out to determine the etiology, injury characteristics and
management outcome of maxillofacial injuries at our teaching hospital.
Patients and Methods: A prospective hospital based study of maxillofacial injury patients was carried out at
Bugando Medical Centre from November 2008 to October 2009. Data was collected using a structured
questionnaire and analyzed using SPPS computer software version 11.5.
Results: A total of 154 patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 2.7:1. Their mean age was
28.32 ± 16.48 years and the modal age group was 21-30 years. Most injuries were caused by road traffic crushes
(57.1%), followed by assault and falls in 16.2% and 14.3% respectively. Soft tissue injuries and mandibular fractures
were the most common type of injuries. Head/neck (53.1%) and limb injuries (28.1%) were the most prevalent
associated injuries. Surgical debridement (95.1%) was the most common surgical procedures. Closed reduction of
maxillofacial fractures was employed in 81.5% of patients. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed in
6.8% of cases. Complications occurred in 24% of patients, mainly due to infection and malocclusion. The mean
duration of hospital stay was 18.12 ± 12.24 days. Mortality rate was 11.7%.
Conclusion: Road traffic crashes remain the major etiological factor of maxillofacial injuries in our setting. Measures
on prevention of road traffic crashes should be strongly emphasized in order to reduce the occurrence of these
injuries