Current practice in provision of alcohol assessment and support for patients following alcohol related facial fractures

Publication date: Available online 1 February 2018
Source:Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Author(s): Kai Lee, Michael Qiu, Jiandong Sun
Objectives: Algorithm of maxillofacial trauma management is well defined, however provision of alcohol assessment for patients post trauma is not widely practised. This study aims to investigate the rate of alcohol assessment achieved within facial trauma demographic and circumstances where this intervention was implemented. Methods: This study retrospectively examined the Victorian admitted episodes data-set (VAED) from 2004-2013. Results: Of a total of 54,730 presentations with facial fractures to all Victorian Hospitals, 0.9% in non-alcohol involved group and 4.3% in alcohol involved group received alcohol assessment during their inpatient stay (p<0.001). Among patients with alcohol involvement, the likelihood of assessment was significantly different between length of stay, age, trauma mechanism and gender. Positive blood alcohol test did not relate to probability of assessment. Those with acute alcohol intoxication was less likely to be assessed (p<0.001), while those with harmful alcohol use, alcohol dependence or alcohol withdrawal state were much more likely to be assessed (p<0.001). Conclusions: this study found no consistent practice of alcohol support to patients following alcohol-related facial fractures. Post trauma alcohol support may optimise perioperative management of patients, education of alcohol harm and reduce future trauma risk. Development and refinement of such practice is an area for further research.



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