Pattern of Maxillofacial Trauma at SPHMMC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objectives: To assess the pattern of maxillofacial trauma from 2011 - 2016 at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: The study was Cross Sectional Retrospective Medical Record Review. All medical records of patients presented with maxillofacial trauma at Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery in SPHMMC during the five year period from September 2011 - 2016 were reviewed. The data were collected from February – May, 2017 and analyzed by SPSS Version 20 with descriptive statistics.
Results: We reviewed 3595 Medical Records. Mean age was 27.69 (SD± 12.437). 79.7 % were males and Maxillofacial trauma commonly affected age groups of 15 -24 and 35 - 44 (35.4 and 30.68 % respectively). The out-Patient clinic managed the vast majority (97.5 %) of the patients without being admitted. Interpersonal violence caused most of the injuries (77.7%) while fall was the major cause in the age category of 1 – 4 (52 %). Majority of the patients presented with both hard and soft tissue injuries (73.8%), dento-alveolar fracture being the most common hard tissue injury (64.8%) followed by Mandibular (22.6%) and Mid-face fractures (6.4%). Head injury (16.3 %) was found to be commonly associated with other traumas. Overall, January saw the highest number of injuries (11.18%).
Conclusions: This study shows young adults are commony presented with maxillofacial trauma, interpersonal Violence being the most common cause as face is prominent to be attacked by intentional violence. This is probably due to social, cultural and economic factors. Governmental institutions, Community Elders, Religious leaders and schools should work together to reduce physical aggression and violence.