Citation

Daniel OO, Ngutor VO, Idemudia AB, Adetokunbo AR, Cornelius IA, Akinwale EA. Niger. J. Clin. Pract. 2013; 16(2): 149-154.

Affiliation

Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Medical and Dental Consultants' Association of Nigeria)

DOI

10.4103/1119-3077.110126

PMID

23563452

Abstract

Aim: To determine the nature of pediatric maxillofacial injuries, according to etiology and characteristics of patients. Materials and Methods: The records of patients aged 15 years and below who presented with maxillofacial trauma to the Maxillofacial Clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria over a 3-year period were retrospectively examined. Patients' demographic and etiologic factors were obtained and analyzed. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 160 patients comprising males, 102 (63.8%) and females 58 (36.2%), were seen over the period of study. The age of patients range from 4 months to 15 years, mean 7.07 ± 4.52 years. There was no gender difference in terms of age (P < 0.05). Road traffic accident (RTA) was the most common etiologic factor accounting for 45.0% of cases. This was followed by fall (40.6%). Animal related injury and violence accounted equally for 3.8%. Soft tissue injuries in the form of abrasion, laceration and avulsion accounted for 70.0% of cases. Other anatomical sites included the mandible (16.3%), dento-alveolar fractures(12.5%), and midface (1.3%). Conclusion: Road traffic accident and falls still remains the leading cause of maxillofacial injuries in children in this part of the globe. There is a need to reinforce existing traffic laws that aimed at minimizing the menace of RTA-related accidents.

Language: en