Characteristics of Alcohol Related Facial Fractures

Publication date: Available online 18 December 2016
Source:Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Author(s): Kai Lee, Michael Qiu
BackgroundExcessive indulgence in alcohol is a key causative factor in facial fractures especially in settings of interpersonal violence (IPV) and motor vehicle accidents (MVA).ObjectivesThis study aims to explore characteristics of alcohol involved facial fracture in the State of Victoria, Australia over a 10-year period.MethodsThis retrospective study analysed data from the Victorian admitted episodes dataset (VAED) between 2004-2014; VAED is a standardised database reported by all Victorian Hospitals for every admission. Admission details included patient age group and gender, fracture site(s), injury cause and surgical management.Results4293 patients were treated for alcohol-related facial fractures during the study period; 27% in the 20-29 year age group. Male to female ratio was 9:1. There was rising trend over majority of the study period. 36% suffered multiple facial bone fractures, followed by nasal and midface fractures (22 and 6%, respectively). IPV was the frequent cause (38%), followed by falls and transport-related (30 and 18%, respectively). 16% of patients required surgery and 62% were inpatients for 1-3 days. Concomitant fractures were frequently reported; 20% had fracture to another site, 12% had skull fractures and 4% C-spine fractures. There are statistically significant relationships between age group and gender, gender and fracture site and fracture site and need for surgery (p<0.05).ConclusionThis study reported high incidence of alcohol involved facial fractures in young men with IPV being a predominant cause. Such injury often involves multiple facial bones fractures and severe concomitant trauma necessitating brief hospitalisation but a high proportion of patients were treated non-surgically.



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