The secondary objective of the study was to determine the risk factors for developing postoperative complications.
A retrospective records review was performed for 980 patients who were treated for MF fracture(s) from January 2009 to December 2011. Descriptive statistics were used and independent demographic and injury-related factors assessed for association with outcome using multivariate logistic regression.
A total of 1949 MF fractures from 980 patients were treated over the study period. Males (n聽=聽785, 80.10%) and patients aged 15-24 years (n聽=聽541, 55.20%) were the most frequently affected (mean age (standard deviation, SD) 27.69 (19.22)). The most common aetiology was assault (n聽=聽293, 29.90%). The majority presented with fractures of the orbit (n聽=聽359, 36.33%). In total, 803 fractures from 500 patients were treated operatively. Mandibular fractures were most commonly treated surgically (79.82%). Postoperative complications occurred in 69 of 500 patients treated surgically (13.8%), most commonly due to infected metalware (n聽=聽16, 3.20%). Multiple fractures were associated with a higher probability of requiring surgery (p聽<聽0.001) and developing postoperative complications (p聽<聽0.001) compared to isolated fractures.
MF fractures most commonly affected young males, often as a result of an assault. Per bony injury, mandibular fractures had the greatest proportion that was managed operatively. High-energy injuries were associated with an increased risk of sustaining multiple MF fractures and developing postoperative complications.