A Retrospective Study on Profile of Patients with Faciomaxilary Fractures in a Tertiary Care Center.

Maxillofacial injuries in general occur quite commonly following trauma and these injuries if not properly managed can negatively influence both the psychosocial and functional activities of the patient. This is as a result of the centrality of the facial region as a key factor in human identity, aesthetics, and general well-being. Fractures involving the facial skeleton may be isolated or complex. High velocity trauma is usually seen in urban and semi-urban areas while low velocity trauma is the common setting in rural areas. The pattern of faciomaxillary fractures vary with geographical area, socioeconomic condition, enforcements of law and order of a country. Trauma to the faciomaxillary region mandates special attention as important sensory systems are contained within the face (e.g. vision, auditory, somatic sensation, gustatory, olfaction and vestibular), also, vital structures in the head and neck region are intimately associated (airway, blood vessels, nerves and gastrointestinal tracts. It should be noted that the treatment outcome of maxillofacial fractures is mainly dependent among other things on the degree of injury, type of fracture, the expertise of the surgeon, and available technology. The aim of this study is to find out the incidence of faciomaxillary injuries resulting from various etiological factor Classification of facial bone fractures; Diagnosis and different treatment modalities. This is a prospective cross sectional study comprising of  75  patients who were having different faciomaxillary fractures and visited to L.G. hospital from December 2020 to April 2022. Patients were evaluated thoroughly by history taking, proper examination and routine investigations. In general examination consciousness, orientation to time, place and person, neck movements, and general mobility of the patients were checked. In local examination- facial oedema, facial asymmetry, skin lacerations, deep cuts, decreased mouth opening, improper teeth occlusion, teeth loss, nasal bleeding, black eye, eyeball movements and redness of eyes were checked. In specialized radiological investigations x- rays, 2D & 3D Computed Tomography (CT) of Facial bones were done in all cases. CT Brain and CT Cervical spine were done in patients if needed. From our study, it seems reasonable to assume that road traffic accident remains the leading cause of faciomaxillary fractures and is closely followed by fall especially among men in their productive years. It is necessary to diagnose faciomaxillary fracture at the earliest to prevent the complications of fractures such as infection and malocclusion, for that thorough clinical examination and radiological investigations are very important. 3D CT face is the gold standard investigation in case of different faciomaxillary fractures. In isolated fractures nasal bone fractures remains the most affected bone of the facial skeleton followed by mandible. Among the different sites of mandibular fractures body of the mandible is the most common site for mandibular fractures.