Introduction

Trauma causes death in all age groups worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that trauma is among the leading causes of death and morbidity in the world (1). Maxillofacial trauma is exceptional because it not only has emotional and functional repercussions but can cause permanent deformities to the face (2). Facial injuries are considered a serious public health problem in developed and developing countries (2,3).
Trauma accounts for 20–25% of admissions to the emergency room. According to the Strategic Plan of Trauma (2008–2014) in Mozambique, it has been observed that with increasing urbanization there is a reduction in certain types of trauma, such as fall from trees, burns, drowning, and even suicide. However, traffic accidents have increased due to alcohol consumption and drug abuse. This has resulted in injuries ranging from simple to complex, that require a high level of skill and experience for the best treatment results (4–15).
The provinces of Maputo and Nampula are among the most populous in Mozambique. Two public health facilities, Maputo Central Hospital (HCM) and Nampula Central Hospital (NCH), were selected for this retrospective study. They are both quaternary hospitals, HCM being the national reference hospital. This study aimed to assess the clinical and epidemiological profile of oral and maxillofacial trauma in patients attending HCM and NCH in 2016.

                                                                  

Method

We performed an observational study which was retrospective, transversal and descriptive in character. This study was conducted after approval by the Institutional Bioethics Committee of the Eduardo Mondlane School of Medicine (CIBS FM&HCM/087/2018). The study was based on clinical records of all patients with maxillofacial trauma including soft tissue and bony injuries, and included all ages and genders, as registered in the outpatient and inpatient registers of HCM and NCH from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016.
We excluded records with incomplete data (case notes without data on the variables under study) and those of any non-traumatic pathologies.
Descriptive results (of the variables of age, sex, race, care, patient condition on arrival) were presented in the form of tables and frequency charts. In the analysis, we sought to establish associations between the different variables being studied: the relationship between age of patients and gender; and the relationship between condition of patient in relation to alcohol consumption and age of patient. Statistical tests using Fisher’s and Pearson’s (chi-square) methods in SPSS (version 20 for Windows) looked for a significance level of 5% (p<0.05), which was also used for analysis in this study.
                                                                 

Results

In a non-random sample of about 1352 consecutive patients, the study population was n = 482 trauma patients. We performed a univariate analysis of the variables described (table 1). The age group was stratified according to ICD-10 of WHO.

 

Click to view Table 1

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It was found that 77.39% (n = 373) of trauma patients were aged between 15-44 years and only 1.8% (n=9) were older than 64 years of age. It was also found that 75.31% (n = 363) were males and 24.69% (n=119) were females. 89.21% (n = 430) of these were African and 53.73% (n = 259) did not require admission. It was also observed that about 89.42% (n = 431) of traumatized patients had no clinical records specifying their state in relation to alcohol consumption upon arrival at the hospital.

In the study, the youngest patient was 1 year of age and the oldest was 78 years old. The median age was found to be 27 years.

The vast majority of hospital medical records (70.90%) did not comment on the etiology of maxillofacial trauma variable at both the hospitals, but from the few records that did, 13.4% occurred as a result of road traffic accidents (collisions and runovers). 9% were as a result of Physical aggression (violence).

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Click to view Table 2

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According to Table 2, it was found that 57.88% (n = 279) involved the lower floor of the face (jaw).

The distribution of mandibular fractures according to anatomical region was studied. Parasymphyseal fractures (33%) and bilateral fractures of the body of the mandible (35%) together accounted for 68% of mandibular fractures. Other fractures involved the jaw angle region (13%), simphyseal region (6%), mandibular condyle (2%), and the ascending ramus of the mandible (1%).

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Click to view Table 3

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According to Table 3., 49.30% (n = 238) had a closed reduction and inter-maxillary fixation as treatment.

In this study the association between the variables of age and gender with maxillofacial trauma were analyzed. Age group were stratified according to WHO ICD-10 criteria.

In this evaluation, the Fisher's exact test showed p = 0.006 showing therefore a statistically significant association between age/gender in maxillofacial trauma.

It can be seen that out of 362 patients who were males, 289 were between 15-44 years, 45 patients were between 1-14 years, 26 between the 45-64 years age and only 2 patients over the age of 64 years.

The study also analyzed the relationship between the patient's condition in relation to alcohol ingestion at the time of admission and age. Fisher test (p = 0.091) showed no statistical association. Out of the 11 patients observed to have consumed alcohol, 9 were aged between 15 to 44 years, and 1 patient was between 1-14 years and 1 patient was between 45-64 years.

 

Discussion

There are no published studies on the subject for Mozambique with which to compare our findings. This study is the first of its kind in this country and makes available relevant information which can be compared with similar studies from other countries.
The demographic profile of maxillofacial trauma patients in the two hospitals studied in Mozambique in 2016 is similar: most trauma patients are in the 15–44-year age group, with a mean age 27 years; maxillofacial trauma is more prevalent in African males.
These results of the variables of age, sex, and race are not very different from studies carried out in Nigeria and South Africa (15). The 15–44-year age group is also the most physically active; it includes students and a large portion of the working population. Particularly in the African context, this age group also includes individuals with significant degrees of social responsibility: many in the group are the sole breadwinners in their respective families. This active age group also has a predilection for consuming alcohol and using recreational drugs. It is more likely than any other age group to frequent social gatherings in bars, clubs, discos, etc. This could justify the findings in this study of the disproportionate prevalence of maxillofacial injury as a result of physical violence and road traffic accidents in the 15–44 years age group. According to the WHO, violence is among the leading causes of death worldwide for people in the 15–44-year age group (1).
This study shows a marked difference in the prevalence of maxillofacial trauma in men and women in the two hospitals, in line with the findings of studies done in South Africa (15).
The prevalence of women with maxillofacial trauma has increased (15). Especially in the last three decades, incidence of trauma is growing in women usually aged up to 40 years. This may be due to the behavioral changes of women in society—a greater number of women drivers, the combination of alcohol and driving, and their being required to drive for work (3,4,5,16).
The lower prevalence of maxillofacial trauma in the vulnerable age groups of 1–14 years and>64 years may be due to the decreased incidence of high-risk behavior for trauma in these groups. Maxillofacial fractures have been found to be less frequent in children (1–14 years) and in the elderly over the age of 60 years (3,17–19).
We cannot draw conclusions on outpatient or inpatient treatment and on the consumption of alcohol, due to lack of data in this study. In the literature consulted, in all traumas resulting from traffic accidents, the presence of alcohol was noted in 65% of cases (1).
Studies in Pakistan, South Africa, and Brazil identify physical aggression as the primary cause of maxillofacial traumas (1,18,19); this study cannot yet state conclusively from the few duly completed clinical reports available that physical aggression and traffic accidents are among the leading causes of maxillofacial trauma.
In this study, traumas of the lower floor of the face are the most prevalent types of maxillofacial trauma, mandibular fractures being the most common diagnosis; this finding agrees with the findings of similar studies in the literature consulted (17). The regions of the head, jaw and para symphyseal area of the mandible are the most common locations of these fractures (10–13).
This study also found that closed reductions are the most common treatment, again agreeing with the available literature (7–9,14,15,20). Wound suture and open reductions were also the most frequent treatment modalities used.
                                                                 

Conclusion

Trauma is a major cause of disease in the country, but despite the study bringing evidence considered important from the point of view of Public Health, this study showed that more than one third of patients treated at the Maxillofacial Surgery Service had maxillofacial trauma in the year 2016. Maxillofacial Trauma is one of the leading causes of hospitalization at HCM and HCN.

The characteristic epidemiological profile of patients with maxillofacial trauma is mainly lower facial floor fractures. This type of trauma is severe and common in males between the ages of 15-44; who had regards to the treatment, a similar clinical management in both hospitals in Mozambique.

                                                                  

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