A retrospective study of patients with mandibular fractures treated at a Swedish University Hospital 1999-2008

BACKGROUND: Fracture of the mandible is one of the most common fractures of the maxillofacial skeleton. However, the etiology, gender, and age distribution vary between different regions and countries, and the purpose of this study was to evaluate the current trend of patients with mandibular fractures at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, in Uppsala, Sweden. AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze patients with mandibular fractures treated in the University Hospital of Uppsala (the county capital of Uppland) Sweden during a 10-year period (1999-2008). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was designed as a retrospective study of patients admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. The location of fractures was evaluated clinically by the surgeon and on the X-rays. We classified the data according to gender, age, etiology, day of the week, month of the year, fracture site, and method of treatment of the fractures. RESULTS: Records were collected from patient charts from 266 patients. One hundred eighty-seven patients (70%) with mandibular fractures were of male gender, and 132 patients (50%) were aged 16-30 years. Interpersonal violence constituted the most common etiological factor for mandibular fractures (24%), followed by falls (23%). Forty-nine percentages of the patients were treated surgically, and 51% were treated conservatively. There was an increase of the annual incidence of fractures toward the end of the period, even though not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular fractures occurred primarily among younger men between 16- and 30-year-old. Condyle fractures were the most common fracture site and 50% of the patients required surgery. Summer months and weekends were the most common time of mandibular fractures.