Mandibular Fractures at Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Medical Science and Research Institute, Garhwal Region, Uttarakhand, India: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Mandibular fractures constitute a substantial proportion of cases of maxillofacial trauma. Demographic data related to mandibular fractures are difficult to evaluate because of many variables associated with the studies. The information is as diverse as the countries and the people who inhabit them. AIM: This is a retrospective study designed to determine the site distribution, associated fracture and causes of mandibular fractures in patients presenting to the trauma centre of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Medical Science and Research Institute, Uttarakhand, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 121 patients with confirmed mandibular fractures presenting over a three year period (i.e., 1(st) January 2008 to 31(st) December 2010). Data obtained from record included age, sex, site of fracture and causes. RESULTS: There were 48/121 (39.6%) males and 73/121 (60.3%) females. The most predominant age group of fracture was found to be 21-30 (53/121-43.8%) followed by 11-20 (25/121-20.6%). In this study history of fall was the most common cause of mandibular fracture (66/121-54.5%), followed by road traffic accidents (45/121-37.1%), fights and assault (08/121-6.6%) and industrial accidents (02/121-1.6%). In our study most of the patients suffered from fracture in the parasymphysis (35/139-25.1%) and angle region (32/139-23.0%) followed by body (30/139-21.5%), condyle (21/139-15.1%), symphysis (19/139-13.7%), and ramus (02/121-1.4%) area. CONCLUSION: In this study mandibular fractures were more prevalent in females especially during the second and third decade of life. History of fall was the most predominant cause of mandibular fracture. The most frequently affected sites were parasymphysis and angle.