Mandibular fractures

Introduction: Maxillofacial trauma is a regularly reported occurrence in theemergency room. Of all maxillofacial injuries worldwide, the mandible is the most commonlyinvolved facial bone, with etiologies ranging from assaults and interpersonal violence to RTAs.Objectives: We aim to identify the patterns of incidence, etiology, age groups, anatomicallocation and gender in mandibular fractures in the population of Karachi, Pakistan. StudyDesign: Observational cross sectional study. Setting: Dow International Dental College. Period:January 2012 – September 2017. Materials and Methods: Informed consent was obtainedalong with a comprehensive history; a systematic clinical examination was supplemented byradiographs of the face as required to confirm the presence of fractures. Statistical analysis wasdone using SPSS v.21. Results: Over 5 years, an overall 156 patients sustained 250 fractures ofthe mandible. Most affected gender was male, the age group was 20-30 years, most commoncause was Road Traffic Accidents and site was the parasymphysis. Conclusion: Mandibularfractures have a higher incidence in young males driving motorbikes or cars. More rigorouslegislative action and community awareness is required to lessen the rate of mandibularfractures in Karachi, Pakistan.