Pediatric facial fractures: Demographic determinants influencing clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: There is limited data linking demographic determinants to clinical outcomes in facial trauma, particularly when comparing regional to national datasets; these are the aims of the present study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.

METHODS: A 10-year, retrospective single-institutional chart review was undertaken at Children's Hospital Colorado (CHC) to characterize a pediatric population with facial fractures. A comparative analysis between the CHC and National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) datasets was also conducted.

RESULTS: In the CHC dataset, increased hospital stay was positively predicted by bilateral mandible fracture, skull, intracranial, spine, thoracic, abdominal, and limb injuries. Predictors of increased intensive-care unit (ICU) stay included skull, spine, and limb injuries. The CHC cohort had younger subjects, more females, fewer African Americans, and more Hispanics than the NTDB dataset. They were more likely to be injured by nonviolent activities than by altercations. Divergent facial and associated injuries between the datasets were found. Multivariate models showed longer length of hospital stay for the CHC group (P = .0085), but the NTDB group had higher ICU admission (P = .04) and longer lengths of ICU stay (P = .007).

CONCLUSION: The demographic disparities (age, ethnicity, mechanism of injury, and injury type) resulted in divergent injury patterns and likely influenced clinical outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.