Craniomaxillofacial trauma in the elderly

Matthew J. Goldschmidt, Charles L. Castiglione, Leon A. Assael, Mark D. Litt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Limited data are currently available regarding the nature of craniomaxillofacial fractures in the geriatric population. This retrospective study reviews 109 hospital records dating from 1981 to mid-1993. The goal of this study was to provide details relevant to these types of injuries. Results: Most patients were injured in motor vehicle accidents (MVA) or fall-related episodes. Females sustained 43.9% of the fractures while males sustained 56.1%. In females, falls were the most common cause of fractures, while in males MVAs caused the majority of fractures (P < .01). Most fractures were found in the upper midface region (60.3%) and the mandible (27.5%). MVAs and falls were responsible for 82.7% of all mandibular fractures. The majority of fractures were treated nonsurgically (49.5%); however, 37.6% were treated with open reduction and internal fixation. The in-hospital mortality rate was 11.1%, and there were three postoperative complications. Conclusion: The geriatric Craniomaxillofacial trauma patient is readily treatable with both aggressive surgical measures and more conservative approaches. Elderly patients often have an underlying medical condition that may subsequently alter the patient's treatment. The findings of this study also suggest that more preventive measures and methods of minimizing mortality and morbidity need to be implemented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1145-1149
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume53
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1995
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Craniomaxillofacial trauma in the elderly'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this