EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MAXILLOFACIAL INJURIES IN “HERATSI” NO 1 UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN YEREVAN, ARMENIA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of the prevalence, etiologies, and types of maxillofacial injuries (MFI) and sites of maxillofacial fractures (MFF) and their management in the Department of ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery of <> No. 1 University Hospital in Yerevan, Armenia. Material and methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Data including age, sex, date of referral, mode of injury, etiology, radiology records and treatment methods were extracted. Study outcomes were measured using percentages, means, standard deviations and tests of proportions. P <.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 204 patients had a mean age of 36.26 ±1.08 years (156 males and 48 females), and a total of 259 MFIs were recorded between 2017 and 2020. Interpersonal violence was found to be the most common etiology of MFFs in this study (42.1%), followed by road traffic accidents (RTAs) (27.9%) and falls (18.6%). The nasal bone was the most common injury site (47.5%), followed by the mandible (31.4%) and zygomatic complex (11.7%). The most common fracture site was the mandibular angle (37.9%), followed by the symphysis/parasymphysis (28.1%) and body (12.6%). The majority of MFFs were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Conclusion Interpersonal violence, followed by RTAs and falls, was the most common cause of MFIs. The nasal bone was the most common injury site, followed by the mandible and zygomatic complex. Social education with the objective of reducing aggression and interpersonal conflict should be improved, and appropriate RTA prevention strategies should be strengthened and implemented. KEY MESSAGES What is already known on this subject Traumatic injuries continue to be important causes of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries. The incidence rates, etiologies, types, and injuries associated with MFFs vary among different countries. RTAs are the most frequent cause of MFIs in developing countries, and in contrast, the most frequent cause of MFFs in developed countries is IV or assault What this study adds Interpersonal violence was found to be the most common etiology of MFF in this study, followed by RTAs and falls. Patients aged 21-30 years were likely to have sustained nasal bone fractures and mandible fractures in equal proportions. The nasal bones were found to be the most common injury site, followed by the mandible and zygomatic complex.