Craniofacial Fractures Pattern in Motor Vehicle Accidents in Tehran, Iran: Epidemiology and Predictive Indices



Khalatbari S¹ ; Aghakhani K¹ ; Ameri M¹ ; Ramim T²
Source: Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Published:2020

Abstract

Background: The previously performed studies on the craniofacial injuries only evaluated the frequency of facial bone fractures and no specific differentiation was conducted between the cranial and facial fractures. The current study aimed to evaluate the craniofacial fractures pattern occurred in the motor vehicle accidents. Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted in Rasoul-akram Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from autumn 2013 to autumn 2014. All patients with Iranian nationality, 18 years and older and head and neck trauma in motor vehicle were evaluated. The head computed tomography (CT) was performed for all patients. Results: The results indicating fractures were considered positive. Age and gender of the patients were considered as demographic indices and the measures obtained from each group were separately recorded. Totally, 291 subjects with head and neck trauma were evaluated in the current study. In 141 subjects, the simple or comminuted craniofacial fractures were reported. Most of the subjects were male (87.94%) and less than 55 years (82.26%). Evaluating the pattern of fracture showed that the most frequent fractures in males were in nasal, temporal and frontal bones, respectively; while, the most frequent fractures in females were in temporal, nasal and occipital bones, respectively; 23.5% of females had temporal fracture, while this rate in males was 5.6% (P=0.029). Conclusions: The most prevalent fractures in motor vehicle accidents among male and youth occurred in nasal, frontal and temporal bones, and in females occurred in nasal, temporal and occipital bones. Temporal, nasal and cranial base fractures were the most prevalent fractures among the elderly. © 2020, Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved.