Tauqir-ul islam, Muhammad Junaid Lakhani, Hasan Mehdi, Atif Zubairi.
Maxillofacial Trauma and Associated Brain Injuries.
Med Forum Jan ;2(11):64-6.

Objective: The aim of this study is to find out the distribution of brain injuries in patients with craniofacial trauma. Study Design: Retrospective study Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Neurosurgery of Liaquat National Hospital from Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2010 Materials and Methods: History form and radiographs of 112 patients who visited the Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Neurosurgery of Liaquat National Hospital were reviewed. Results: Mean age of the sample was 31.7 years (+/- 8.8), minimum 18 years and maximum 65 years. The most common cause of cranio-facial trauma was road traffic accidents accounting for 94.6% followed by gunshot 2.7% fall 1.8% and assault 0.9%. Young adult males were most frequently affected. The most common site of trauma was midface 49.5% followed by mandible 26.8%, orbit 16.1% and panfacial 8%.Brain injury was recorded in 37.8 % of patients. Contusion, concussion and direct trauma to the brain was most common in mid face fractures hemorrhage was most common in Panfacial fracture. Mean GCS score was 14.77 in Mandibular trauma, 13.17 in isolated orbital fractures12.98 in Midface trauma and 9.18 in Panfacial trauma. Conclusion: There is a strong correlation noticed between the craniofacial trauma and brain injury in this study. Young adult males sustained most craniofacial fractures as a result of road traffic accidents. A clearer understanding of risk factors associated with road traffic accidents and strict implantation of road traffic safety measures should be emphasized to avoid serious complications. Education of oral and maxillofacial surgeons regarding brain injury and its significance in terms of neurological outcomes should be emphasized.

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