RESEARCH

57

Journal of Public Health and Development Vol. 13 No. 2 May - August 2015

GENERAL ARTICLE

Incidence and etiology of maxillofacial trauma: A retrospective analysis of patients attending a provincial hospital in northern Thailand Samorn Boonkasem,1 Chanapong Rojanaworarit,2 Saowapa Kansorn3 and Supagan Punkabut4 1 D.D.S., Dip. Thai Board (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery), Phichit Hospital, Thailand 2 D.D.S., Ph.D. Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand 3 B.P.H. Phichit Hospital, Thailand 4 B.B.A. Phichit Hospital, Thailand

Received: 7 August 2015 Revised: 17 October 2015 Accepted: 19 October 2015 Corresponding author: Chanapong Rojanaworarit Email: [email protected] Available online: October 2015

Abstract

Boonkasem S, Rojanaworarit C, Kansorn S and Punkabut S. Incidence and etiology of maxillofacial trauma: A retrospective analysis of patients attending a provincial hospital in northern Thailand. J Pub Health Dev. 2015;13(2):57-71

This study aimed to identify cumulative incidences, causes, severity reflected by extent of damage and treatment modalities of maxillofacial traumas in Thai patients attending Phichit Hospital in northern Thailand. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed all maxillofacial trauma cases pursuing treatment from October 2009 to January 2014 (4 years and 3 months). Cumulative incidence was estimated for each calendar year (2010-2013). Helmet use and alcoholic drinking statuses prior to injuries and causes of trauma were obtained from records of injury surveillance system. Maxillofacial traumas were diagnosed according to ICD-10. Diagnoses and treatments were provided by a specialized oral and maxillofacial surgeon. There were 210 incident cases in this study period. Annual incidences in 2010-2013 ranged between 6.4-10.4 per 100,000 populations. Most cases were males (161, 76.7%) and average age was 37.1±16.0 (range 8-78 years old). Causes of trauma were identified in 194 cases. There were 142 fracture cases from motorcycle accident. From 107 cases with identifiable statuses of helmet use prior to motorcycle accident, 89 cases (83.2%) did not wear helmet. About half of the cases with identifiable statuses of alcoholic drinking were found drinking prior to injuries. The most common treatment was open reduction and internal fixation with plate. Incidences of maxillofacial traumas in Phichit Province were exiguous. Nonetheless, severity was consid- erable as indicated by several multiple fracture cases and common treatment by open reduction. Hypothesis of motorcycle driving without helmet use as a cause of maxillofacial fractures was supported.

Keywords: maxillofacial fracture, trauma, maxillofacial surgery, injury, epidemiology

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วารสารสาธารณสุขและการพัฒนา ปีที่ 13 ฉบับที่ 2 พฤษภาคม - สิงหาคม 2558

อุบัติการณ์และสมุฏฐานวิทยาของการบาดเจ็บบริเวณ ใบหน้าและขากรรไกร: การศึกษาในผู้ป่วยที่เข้ารับ การรักษาในโรงพยาบาลจังหวัดแห่งหนึ่งในภาคเหนือ ประเทศไทย

สมร บุญเกษม,1 ชนพงษ์ โรจนวรฤทธิ์,2 เสาวภา คันศร3 และศุภกาญจน์ ปุณกะบุตร4

1 D.D.S., Dip. Thai Board (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery) กลุ่มงานทันตกรรม โรงพยาบาลพิจิตร ประเทศไทย 2 D.D.S., Ph.D. ภาควิชาระบาดวิทยา คณะสาธารณสุขศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล ประเทศไทย 3 B.P.H. กลุ่มภารกิจพัฒนาระบบบริการสุขภาพ โรงพยาบาลพิจิตร ประเทศไทย 4 B.B.A. กลุ่มภารกิจพัฒนาระบบบริการสุขภาพ โรงพยาบาลพิจิตร ประเทศไทย

บทคัดย่อ

สมร บุญเกษม ชนพงษ์ โรจนวรฤทธิ์ เสาวภา คันศร และศุภกาญจน์ ปุณกะบุตร อุบัติการณ์และสมุฏฐานวิทยาของการบาดเจ็บบริเวณใบหน้าและขากรรไกร: การศึกษาในผู้ป่วยที่เข้ารับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาลจังหวัดแห่งหนึ่งในภาคเหนือ ประเทศไทย. ว.สาธารณสุขและการพัฒนา 2558;13(2):57-71

การศกึษานีม้วีตัถปุระสงค์เพือ่ระบอุบุตักิารณ์สะสม สาเหต ุความรนุแรง และรปูแบบการรกัษาของการบาดเจบ็บรเิวณใบหน้า และขากรรไกรในผู้ป่วยไทยที่เข้ารับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาลพิจิตร ผู้วิจัยรวบรวมข้อมูลย้อนหลังของผู้ป่วยทุกรายที่เข้ารับการรักษาทางศัลยศาสตร์ช่องปากและแม็กซิลโลเฟเชียล ณ แผนก ทันตกรรม ในเดือนตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552 ถึง มกราคม พ.ศ. 2557 (รวม 4 ปี 3 เดือน) ค�านวณอุบัติการณ์สะสมของการบาดเจ็บ บรเิวณใบหน้าและขากรรไกรรายปีปฏทินิ (พ.ศ.2553-2556) ข้อมลูสถานะการสวมหมวกนริภยัและการดืม่สรุาก่อนเกดิการบาดเจบ็ รวมทั้งสาเหตุการบาดเจ็บ รวบรวมจากบันทึกของระบบเฝ้าระวังการบาดเจ็บระดับชาติในส่วนที่โรงพยาบาลพิจิตรรับผิดชอบ การให้ค�าวินิจฉัยการบาดเจ็บอ้างอิงตามระบบ ICD-10 ทันตแพทย์เฉพาะทางศัลยศาสตร์ช่องปากและแม็กซิลโลเฟเชียลเพียง คนเดียวเป็นผู้ประเมิน ให้ค�าวินิจฉัย และให้การรักษา ในช่วงที่ศึกษามีผู้ป่วยรายใหม่ทั้งสิ้น 210 คน อุบัติการณ์สะสมในปีพ.ศ.2553-2556 อยู่ในช่วง 6.4 ถึง 10.4 ต่อ 100,000 ประชากร ผู้ป่วยส่วนใหญ่เป็นเพศชาย (161 คน, 76.7%) อายุเฉลี่ยของผู้ป่วยทั้งหมดคือ 37.1±16.0 ปี (พิสัย 8-78 ปี) สามารถ ระบุสาเหตุการณ์บาดเจ็บได้ใน 194 ราย มีผู้ป่วย 142 รายที่มีการแตกหักของกระดูกใบหน้าและขากรรไกรจากอุบัติเหตุรถ จักรยานยนต์ มีผู้ป่วย 107 รายที่สามารถระบุสถานะการสวมหมวกนิรภัยก่อนเกิดอุบัติเหตุรถจักรยานยนต์ได้ซึ่งมี 89 ราย (83.2%) ทีไ่ม่สวมหมวกนริภยั ประมาณครึง่หนึง่ของผูป่้วยทีส่ามารถระบสุถานะการดืม่สรุาก่อนเกดิอบุตัเิหตไุด้ดืม่สรุาก่อนเกดิการบาดเจบ็ การรักษาที่พบมากที่สุดคือการผ่าตัดจัดชิ้นกระดูกหักและยึดตรึงภายใน (open reduction and internl fixation) โดยสรปุ แม้ว่าอบุตักิารณ์การบาดเจบ็บรเิวณใบหน้าและขากรรไกรในจงัหวดัพจิติรจะไม่มากเมือ่เทยีบฐานประชากรทัง้จงัหวดั แต่มคีวามรนุแรงดงัแสดงได้จากการแตกหกัร่วมของกระดกูหลายชิน้และการต้องรกัษาด้วยการผ่าตดัจดัชิน้กระดกูหกั ผลการศกึษา นีส้นบัสนนุสมมตฐิานทีก่ารไม่สวมหมวกนริภยัขณะขบัขีร่ถจกัรยานยนต์เป็นปัจจยัทีม่ผีลต่อการเกดิการบาดเจบ็ในบรเิวณใบหน้า และขากรรไกร

ค�าส�าคัญ: การแตกหักกระดูกใบหน้าและขากรรไกร, การบาดเจ็บ, ศัลยศาสตร์ช่องปากและแม็กซิลโลเฟเชียล, วิทยาการระบาด ของการบาดเจ็บ

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Journal of Public Health and Development Vol. 13 No. 2 May - August 2015

Introduction Maxillofacial traumas are physical injuries causing

damage to soft and hard tissues constituting organs

of maxillofacial region. Anatomical boundary of

the region extends vertically from superior border

of frontal bone to inferior rim of mandible, and

horizontally between zygomatico-temporal sutures in

both sides. Maxillofacial structures are vulnerable to

trauma since they are the most exposed body parts.1

Epidemiological profile of the traumas; characterized by

patients’ clinical characteristics (person), geographical

and environmental context (place), and period of

analysis (time); varies among studies in different

countries.2-7 Such variation is primarily due to difference

in several factors; for instance, demographic structure,

environment, socioeconomic context, and mechanism

of injury.3,4

Apart from description of pattern by person,

place, and time; several studies identified magnitude

of maxillofacial traumas by ‘number of cases’ or ‘cases

per year’.2-13 Nonetheless, study specifying ‘cumulative

incidence’–which implies risk or probability of event

occurrence in a certain population14–of the traumas

is scarce. Measuring cumulative incidence may not

be simply achieved in several settings. For instance,

referral center caring for patients from diverse residential

locations would face challenge in terms of difficulty

to determine whether the registered cases represent

total number of cases in a certain location of origin.

Therefore, overall and age-specific cumulative

incidences in a defined population and targeted age

groups remain gaps of knowledge for prevention and

control of the problem. Phichit Hospital provided

a unique opportunity for estimating the cumulative

incidence since it was the only facility in Phichit

Province offering comprehensive maxillofacial trauma

care. Loss of cases through referral to nearby prov-

inces was uncommon. Estimation of total number of

cases who were residents of this province and use of

mid-year population for calculation of the incidence

were therefore rational.

Several studies have investigated causes of

maxillofacial injuries. Motorcycle and car accidents

have been the most common causes of maxillofa-

cial traumas requiring maxillofacial surgery in many

countries.3-6,8-10 Another most common cause is

assault.4,11-13 This discrepancy in findings would

imply need of investigation for context-specific causes

of the incidence. Understanding the context-specific

causes would enable specifying relevant preventive

measures, target group to be focused, and how much

resource to be allocated for each measure in a certain

population.

Severity of maxillofacial traumas has been

reflected by several means. Some studies indicated

severity by identifying affected anatomical sites3,6-10,

extent of fractures including multiple fractures9,10,12

and concomitant injuries8,12. Other reports presented

treatment extents and numbers of surgical procedures

as proxy measures of the severity.3,6,9,10 Nonetheless,

lists of treatments varied across studies, primarily

implying differences in settings and facilities. Closed

reduction–a conservative manipulation of fractured

bone fragments without tissue dissection to surgically

expose the fracture site–was the most common

treatment in several studies3,9,15-18; while open reduc-

tion–a surgical intervention which exposes fractured

bone fragments by tissue dissection–was instead

reported in the others19,20. Conservative treatment by

patient counseling and follow-up is strategy commonly

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วารสารสาธารณสุขและการพัฒนา ปีที่ 13 ฉบับที่ 2 พฤษภาคม - สิงหาคม 2558

indicated for fracture without displacement.18 For

management of soft tissue damage either occurring

alone or concomitant with fracture, debridement and

suture is the treatment of choice.18,19

In the context of Thailand, several studies have

revealed maxillofacial injuries in Thai patients.15-19

Nonetheless, none has attempted to measure risk of

maxillofacial injuries in a certain population by means

of cumulative incidence estimation.15-19 Etiology and

severity of maxillofacial traumas in specific context

of northern Thailand is neither adequate. This study

aimed to identify cumulative incidences, causes, and

severity–reflected by extent of damage and treatment

modalities–of maxillofacial traumas in Thai patients

attending Phichit Hospital in the North of Thailand.

Methods This study retrospectively analyzed characteristics

of all maxillofacial trauma cases pursuing treatment

from October 2009 to January 2014 (4 years and 3

months) at the Oral & Maxillofacial Unit, Dental

Department, Phichit Hospital. This public hospital

with inpatient facilities and approximately 400 beds

served tertiary medical services to around 110,000

residents of central district and additionally acted

as referral center for all other districts of Phichit

Province in the North of Thailand.

Patient’s clinical characteristics; including age,

gender, statuses of alcoholic drinking and helmet use

prior to injury; and causes of injury were primarily

obtained from standard case record form (IS 2008_1st

January) routinely used for data collection under

National Injury Surveillance System. Registered nurses

at emergency room were responsible for interviewing

conscious patients or transporters of unconscious

ones and recording data based on protocol of injury

surveillance.21 These data were triangulated with

the ones obtained from routine history taking and

patient assessment on visit to the Oral & Maxillofacial

Unit. A specialized maxillofacial surgeon; who

provided diagnoses, treatments and was responsible

for submitting these clinical evidences related to the

injury for consideration of claim and reimbursement

of health expenses; validated the data. Maxillofacial

traumas were diagnosed according to International

Classification of Disease, Tenth Edition (ICD-10)22.

Data concerning diagnoses and treatments were

recorded and later collected for this research by the

responsible surgeon. Individuals found dead at scene

were excluded from study since the dead bodies

were not delivered to the Oral & Maxillofacial Unit

to determine whether maxillofacial structures were

actually damaged. Without determining existence of

the traumas in these deaths, misclassification problem

could occur if these cases were included. Average

annual number of deaths at scene in Phichit was

around 13 cases per 100,000 populations during the

period of study. Most of these deaths were caused

by blunt trauma involving mainly body trunk.

Annual cumulative incidences of maxillofacial

traumas were estimated for 4 years (2010-2013). In

cumulative incidence estimation, numerator comprising

all trauma cases occurred in a given year was divided

by denominator of mid-year population of Phichit in

that year. The numerator in estimation was defined

upon assumption that all trauma cases requiring maxil-

lofacial treatments were referred to this only referral

center in Phichit. Information regarding mid-year

populations of Phichit was obtained from Bureau of

Regional Administration (Site 6, Phichit Provincial

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Journal of Public Health and Development Vol. 13 No. 2 May - August 2015

Office), Department of Provincial Administration,

Ministry of Interior. The mid-year population included

registered number of residents in all districts of Phichit

to enable estimation of cumulative incidence in total

population of this province.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize

characteristics of patients. Exact probability test was

adopted for comparison of proportions. Stratified

analysis of cases by single and multiple fractures of

maxillofacial bones was undertaken to indicate extent

of damage and reflect severity. Counts of treatment

procedures were analyzed to represent service burden.

Age-specific incidences were analyzed by graphical

means to reveal risk of maxillofacial traumas in

different age groups.

This research has been approved by Research

Ethics Committee in Human Subjects of Phichit

Provinical Hospital. (Approval No. 0049)

Results Over the whole study period, there were 210 inci-

dent cases of maxillofacial traumas. Most cases were

males (161, 76.7%). Age distributions of male and

female cases were not statistically different (p=0.330).

(Table 1) In 2010 to 2013, there were 193 incident

cases. Annual cumulative incidences from 2010 to

2013 were 6.4, 8.4, 10.4, and 10.1 cases per 100,000

populations respectively. Age-specific incidences

were identified in 5 age groups of 15-year interval

(Figure 1). In 2010, incidences of traumas peaked

around 9.5 and 9.1 cases per 100,000 populations

at the age groups of 30-44 and 15-29. Nonetheless,

incidences in the group of 15-29 exceeded all other

age groups and fluctuated around 16.8, 14.2, 19.6

cases per 100,000 populations consecutively from

2011 to 2013.

Table 1 Age and gender distribution among maxillofacial trauma patients

Age group

(years)

Gender Total (%)

Male Female

0-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

≥61

Total

1

31

34

33

26

19

17

161

0

10

6

7

15

7

4

49

1(0.4)

41(19.5)

40(19.1)

40(19.1)

41(19.5)

26(12.4)

21(10.0)

210

Mean = 37.1 SD = 16.0

Min. = 8 Max = 78

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วารสารสาธารณสุขและการพัฒนา ปีที่ 13 ฉบับที่ 2 พฤษภาคม - สิงหาคม 2558

From 210 cases, most injuries resulted in fractures

either at single site (162 cases, 77.1%) or multiple

sites (39 cases, 18.6%). (Table 2) Facial wounds

Figure 1 Age-specific cumulative incidence of maxillofacial traumas in 2010 to 2013

were found in 57 cases, 48 as concurrent wounds

with fractures and the rest as solitary lesions.

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Journal of Public Health and Development Vol. 13 No. 2 May - August 2015

Table 2 Percentage distribution of anatomical sites of maxillofacial fractures in 201 cases

Site of fracture n (%)

Fracture at single site (n=162)

Zygoma*

Mandible

Maxilla

Zygomatic arch

Alveolar process

Orbit

Naso-orbito-ethomoidal complex

Fracture at multiple sites (n=39)

Zygoma+Maxilla

Zygoma+Mandible

Zygoma+Orbit

Zygoma+Zygomatic arch

Mandible+Maxilla

Mandible+Zygomatic arch

Mandible+Alveolar process

Orbit+Nasal bone

Orbit+Mandible

Zygoma+Mandible+Maxilla

Zygoma+Maxilla+Nasal bone

Zygomatic arch+Mandible+Maxilla

Mandible+Maxilla+Nasal bone

Zygoma+Maxilla+Nasal bone+Frontal bone

Zygoma+Mandible+Maxilla+Nasal bone

75

58

8

7

7

6

1

9

8

2

1

2

2

2

2

1

3

2

1

1

1

2

(37.3)

(28.8)

(4.0)

(3.5)

(3.5)

(3.0)

(0.5)

(4.4)

(4.0)

(1.0)

(0.5)

(1.0)

(1.0)

(1.0)

(1.0)

(0.5)

(1.5)

(1.0)

(0.5)

(0.5)

(0.5)

(1.0)

*The term implies fracture of zygomaticomaxillary complex.

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Causes of trauma were identified in 194 cases

and fractures were found as consequents in 185 cases.

Proportions of cases distributed by causes were not

significantly different between males and females

(p=0.093). Motorcycle accidents were the major causes

of traumas among cases of both genders, among

those aged 15 to 29 years old, and accounted for

142 cases with fractures. ‘Any falling’ included both

cases falling from height and those who lost balance

and collapsed. ‘Other road accidents’ involved cases

from bicycle and pedestrian accidents. Other physical

injuries, such as sport injury, were grouped into ‘Other

accidents’. From 107 cases with identifiable statuses

of helmet use prior to motorcycle accidents, 89 cases

(83.2%) were found not wearing helmet. Proportions

of helmet use in male and female cases were not

significantly different (p=1.000). About half of the

cases with identifiable statuses of alcoholic drinking

were found drinking prior to injuries. Proportion of

alcoholic drinking prior to injuries was significantly

higher among males (p<0.001). Motorcycle accidents

resulted in various damage extents, ranging from

having only facial wound to larger extent of multiple

fractures. In contrast, other road traffic injuries–includ-

ing car and other road accidents–involved only few

cases of multiple fractures. None of multiple fractures

was caused by any falling and assault. (Table 3)

Table 3 Causes of maxillofacial traumas in 194 identifiable cases

Characteristics Causes of injuries

Motor- cycle

accident

Car accident

Any falling

Assault Other road

accidents

Other accidents

Age groups 0-14 15-29 30-44 45-59 ≥60 Gender Male Female Helmet use (n=107) Yes No Alcoholic drinking (n=128) Yes No

5 60 33 38 12

115(77.2)†

33(73.3)†

18(16.8)‡

89(83.2)

57 53

1 2 5 4 2

8(5.4) 6(13.3)

- -

3 3

- - 1 - 2

2(1.3) 1(2.2)

- -

- 2

- 3 3 2 1

7(4.7) 2(4.4)

- -

4 -

- 4 5 1 2

12(8.1) -

- -

4 2

- 2 2 2 2

5(3.4) 3(6.7)

- -

- -

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Journal of Public Health and Development Vol. 13 No. 2 May - August 2015

Table 3 Causes of maxillofacial traumas in 194 identifiable cases (Cont.)

Characteristics Causes of injuries

Motor- cycle

accident

Car accident

Any falling

Assault Other road

accidents

Other accidents

Lesions Facial wound only Fracture at single site Zygoma* Mandible Maxilla Zygomatic arch Alveolar process Orbit Naso-orbito-ethmoidal complex Fracture at multiple sites Zygoma+Mandible Zygoma+Maxilla Zygoma+Orbit Zygoma+Zygomatic arch Mandible+Maxilla Mandible+Zygomatic arch Mandible+Alveolar process Orbit+Nasal Orbit+Mandible Zygoma+Mandible+Maxilla Zygoma+Maxilla+Nasal Zygomatic arch+Mandible+Maxilla Mandible+Maxilla+Nasal Zygoma+Maxilla+Nasal+Frontal Zygoma+Mandible+Maxilla+Nasal Total cases

6

56 35

6 2 5 5 1

7 8 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 2

148(76.3)†

2

3 5 1 1 1 - -

- - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - -

14(7.2)

-

1 2 - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3(1.5)

-

2 5 - 1 - 1 -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

9(4.6)

-

2 8 - 1 - - -

- - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - -

12(6.2)

1

2 1 - 2 - - -

- 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - -

8(4.1)

†Percentage by row, ‡Percentage by column *The term implies fracture of zygomaticomaxillary complex.

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Up to 312 procedures of maxillofacial treatment

were provided in 210 cases. Treatments of fractures

ranged from the simplest procedure of conservative

treatment, closed reduction, to the most complicated

procedure of open reduction and internal fixation

with plate (ORIF with plate). Debridement and suture

was treatment indicated for facial wounds. Required

treatments varied by different fracture sites. Fractures

of zygomaticomaxillary complex and orbit mainly

required ORIF with plate. In contrast, fractures of

mandible required ORIF with plate and closed reduc-

tion in relatively comparable numbers while fractures

of maxillary bones instead required mostly the closed

reduction. (Table 4)

Table 4 Sites of damage and corresponding treatment procedures (n=312 procedures)

Sites of damage Maxillofacial treatments (by procedure)

Open reduction and internal fixation with

plate

Closed reduction

Conservative treatment

Debridement and suture

Fractures Zygoma* Mandible Orbit Zygomatic arch Maxilla Alveolar process Nasal bone Frontal Naso-orbito-ethmoidal complex Facial wounds

97 40

10 7 1 1 - 1 1

-

- 43

- 3

28 7 4 - -

-

6 - 1 1 - 1 3 - -

-

- - - - - - - - -

57

*The term implies fracture of zygomaticomaxillary complex.

67

Journal of Public Health and Development Vol. 13 No. 2 May - August 2015

Discussion Maxillofacial traumas in this setting involved

individuals of all age groups, primarily due to vari-

ous causes feasibly experienced at any ages. Wide

age distribution among cases was consistently found

in other studies regardless of different geographical

regions.17-20,23-31 Many studies have reported most

traumas occurred in the third decade of life–21 to 30

years old.23-29 Nonetheless, this study found relatively

the same ‘number of cases’ in the second to the fifth

decades of life. (Table 1) This finding should not

be misinterpreted as having equal risk of traumas

for each of these decades. In other words, based on

epidemiological principle, number of cases occurring

in each age-specific category does not imply ‘risk’

and should not be used for comparison to identify

high-risk age group.14 Regarding this principle,

‘cumulative incidence’–an epidemiological measure

of disease frequency calculated by ‘number of new

cases’ divided by ‘total population at risk’ (mid-year

population in this study)–was adopted to identify risk

of maxillofacial traumas in the defined population and

to compare age-specific probability of traumas across

different age groups in the same and different years.

This study identified age group of 30-44 to have the

highest risk of traumas in 2010 while the group of

15-29 showed the highest risk in 2011 to 2013. (Figure

1) Shift of the highest-risk group primarily suggested

variation in pattern of the most affected age group by

year of analysis. This finding empirically illustrated

principle of descriptive epidemiology that pattern

of health problem could be changed according to

different time period under consideration.32 Difference

in interpretation of counted ‘number of cases’ and

‘cumulative incidence’ is a critical point to consider.

Number of cases occurring within a specified time

period should not be regarded as epidemiological

‘incidence’. Empirical evidence in this study well

illustrated this point that reporting only the counted

‘number of cases’ occurred in a time period (e.g., per

year)5,13,24 or ‘proportion of cases in a specified age

group from the whole’23,28,31 would actually indicate

magnitude of service burden rather than specifying

high-risk age group. In facility treating patients

from various residential locations; for example, from

different countries or nationalities7, identifying total

number of new cases and corresponding total number

of population at risk from the same location would

not be feasible and estimation of cumulative incidence

would neither be achieved. This study functioned to

illustrate a unique condition that cumulative incidence

could be estimated for maxillofacial traumas.

Another use of descriptive epidemiology study is

for trend analysis.32 Estimated cumulative incidence

of maxillofacial traumas showed increasing trend in

age group of 15-29. Although incidences in this group

fluctuated only in range of 9.1 to 19.6 per 100,000

populations which were relatively exiguous, such

incidence in 2013 was doubled that of 2010. Moreover,

when age-specific incidences in 2010 were consid-

ered as baseline, most of age-specific incidences of

traumas in subsequent years were greater than those

of the baseline regardless of increase in numbers of

age-specific mid-year populations adopted for

estimation. These evidences urged the need for

prevention and control of the problem both in all

age groups and with focus on high-risk group of 15

to 29 years old.

Maxillofacial traumas mostly involved males as

consistently revealed in several studies.15-20,23-31 No

68

วารสารสาธารณสุขและการพัฒนา ปีที่ 13 ฉบับที่ 2 พฤษภาคม - สิงหาคม 2558

statistically significant difference in age distributions

of cases by gender was identified by exact probability

test. Similarity in age structures of both genders was

consistently found in a study.4 Significantly higher

proportion of male cases was found drinking alcohol

prior to injuries. Nonetheless, a study contrastively

revealed that drinking alcohol was not a strong

factor influencing occurrence of maxillofacial trauma.4

Thus, establishing association between alcoholic

drinking and maxillofacial traumas would require

further analytical study with control of confounding

factors.

Finding of motorcycle accident as a major cause

of maxillofacial traumas was consistent with other

studies.3-6,8-10 When motorcycle, car and other road

accidents were combined and broadly considered as

road traffic injuries; this accounted for 89.7 per cent

of all cases with identifiable causes (Table 3) and was

consistently regarded as the most common cause as

in other studies.26,28,31 Unlike some reports indicating

assault as major cause of maxillofacial traumas4,11-13,30,

this study found assault only as a minor cause. Such

difference in etiologic factors suggested variation

across studies in terms of socioeconomic background,

means of transportation, and protective and risk-taking

behavior related to the traumas. Therefore, further

study to reveal context-specific causes is still neces-

sary for prevention and control of this problem in a

certain setting.

Among cases with identifiable statuses of helmet

use prior to motorcycle accidents, 83.2% did not

wear helmet, and this finding was similar to another

study21. This evidence strongly supported assumption

that motorcycle driving without protective helmet use

would cause maxillofacial structures to be more vulner-

able to traumas.33 About half of motorcycle accident

cases with identifiable statuses of alcoholic drinking

were found drinking prior to injuries, as similarly

revealed in another study12. Alcoholic drinking before

accident was also found in assault, car and other road

accidents.12 Lack of helmet use and drink driving were

still the issues to be considered for prevention and

control of the traumas in this setting. High proportion

of those cases without helmet use during motorcycle

driving would suggest need for further investigation

of reasons for not wearing helmet.21 Cases wearing

helmet before injuries should also be investigated for

quality of helmet wearing practice and characteristic

of helmet which might not be sufficiently protective.

Severity of traumas in this study was reflected by

extent of damage to maxillofacial structures. Single-site

fracture mostly involved zygoma, mandible, and

maxilla. Zygoma as the most common single-site

fracture was also found in another study.8 A few

studies reported that orbit12 and nasal bone13 were

mostly involved. Nonetheless, several studies reported

mandible as the most common site for single frac-

ture.15-20,23-30 This evidence suggested variation of the

most common site of single fracture by context of

consideration. Although cumulative incidences in this

study were exiguous, many cases were found having

fractures at multiple sites. There was considerable

variation in pattern of multiple fractures.5 Fracture

of naso-orbito-ethmoidal complex, for instance, has

been identified to always occur as coincidence with

other maxillofacial fractures.28 Nevertheless, this

study found such fracture to occur as single fracture

only–not involving fracture of other bones. The 3

most commonly involved maxillofacial bones in

fracture at multiple sites were zygoma, mandible, and

69

Journal of Public Health and Development Vol. 13 No. 2 May - August 2015

maxilla. (Table 2) This finding was different from a

previous study reporting maxilla, zygomaticomaxillary

complex, and mandible; respectively.28 Variation in

pattern of fractures accounted for limited feasibility

of standardizing surgical treatment.5 Comprehensive

clinical examination to identify extent of damage

along with combined multiple necessary treatments

was therefore recommended.5

Extent of treatment was also used as proxy of

severity since larger extent of complicated treatments

would be required in more severe trauma cases.5

ORIF with plate represented the most complicated

treatment in this setting, followed by closed reduc-

tion, and conservative treatment which represented

the simplest treatment. ORIF with plate was the most

common treatment among fracture cases, as found

in several studies.19-20,24 Closed reduction was more

common in other studies.13,15-18 A study also found

the use of open and close reduction in relatively the

same frequency.3 The most common use of ORIF

in this context would imply that most fractures were

severe to the extent that internal fixation was needed.

Regarding these evidences, it was suggestive that

incidences of fractures might not be common but

extent of damage to maxillofacial structures was

inevitably considerable.

This study added to literature the magnitude of

maxillofacial traumas in Phichit, northern Thailand.

Unlike studies reporting number of cases as incidence,

this study illustrated use of ‘cumulative incidence’

in unique setting to identify high-risk age group.

Teenagers and young adults were the highest-risk

group. Increasing trend of trauma incidences also

informed worsening situation. Control and preven-

tive measures directed to promote road safety use

should be the first priority. For clinical implication,

since pattern of maxillofacial traumas considerably

varied, comprehensive examination to specify damage

extent and combination of necessary treatments were

recommended.

Conclusion Estimated incidences of maxillofacial traumas

requiring maxillofacial treatment in Phichit were

exiguous. Nevertheless, severity of damage was

considerable, as indicated by several multiple fracture

cases and common treatment by ORIF with plate.

Hypothesis of motorcycle driving without helmet use

as a cause of maxillofacial fractures was supported.

Acknowledgements Authors acknowledged Prof. Dr. Jayanton

Patumanond and Lecturer Jongkol Podang for their

constructive comments throughout the content of this

work. This study was financially supported by Section

of Health Service System Development, Phichit

Hospital.

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