Patterns and trends in facial fractures in New Zealand between 1999 and 2009.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To describe patterns and trends in facial fractures in New Zealand over a decade. METHOD: A secondary analysis of Ministry of Health data on facial fractures occurring between 30 June 1999 and 1 July 2009. Patient demographic characteristics and the details of injury were analysed and described. RESULTS: Over the study period, the incidence of injury was constant. A total of 26,637 facial fractures were recorded. Most (79%) occurred in males, giving a male-to-female ratio of 41. Peak injury rates for both males and females, coincide with the legal alcohol purchasing age. Interpersonal violence (IPV) was the leading cause of facial fractures, accounting for 38%; it increased steadily each year. The number of fractures attributed to sports/other, and road traffic accidents (RTA) had fallen. Maori still continue to experience a disproportionate rate of facial fractures, twice that of the NZ European population. CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal violence is an increasing problem in NZ and contributes to a greater number of facial fractures each year. More measures are required to reduce the number of IPV-related injuries. Perhaps the most effective would be to return the legal alcohol purchasing age to 20 years. More is also required to reduce facial fractures in the high-risk injury groups of young adults, males, and Maori.