RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to review motor-vehicle accident-related maxillofacial injuries (MVA-MFI) trauma cases and to investigate whether the growing population and traffic congestion, as well as differences in driving practice, vehicle safely devices and infrastructure facilities might differentially affect the pattern of MVA-MFI among Jewish and Arab populations. METHODS: This retrospective study reviews maxillofacial injuries (MFI) identified among all trauma patients who were admitted to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital, Jerusalem, between the years 2000 to 2013. RESULTS: Out of 29,997 trauma patients, 1,720 presented with MFI, with motor-vehicle accident (MVA) being the major cause of injury (705 patients, 41%). Their mean age was 29.9±21.0 years with a prominent male and Jewish predominance (4.3:1 and 1.8:1, respectively). Most MVA-MFI casualties were car drivers (41%), followed by pedestrians (30%). Pedestrians with MVA-MFI were mainly children and aged persons, whereas drivers were mainly adults. Males and Arabs were more likely to present with higher injury severity score (ISS). Safety belts were not used in the majority of car MVA-MFI patients (54%). Yet, the ISS score did not correlate with the use of safety devices. Mandibular fractures were the most common (21%), followed by nasal bones (20%), zygoma (17%), orbit (16%), maxilla (15%) and teeth (11%). Age was significantly associated with increased maxillary and nasal fractures and with decreased incidence of mandibular and teeth fractures. DISCUSSION: Based on our review, young males and specifically Arab patients suffered from MFI and high ISS scores as a result of MVA. The findings and their interpretations are discussed.