Does trauma etiology affect the pattern of mandibular fracture?

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between trauma etiologies and anatomic sites of mandibular fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample was composed of all patients who sustained mandibular fractures during a 10-year period (2000-2009). The patients' age and gender were recorded; the relationships between fracture etiology and pattern of mandibular fracture were also analyzed. Data analysis included the χ2 test, the Fisher exact test, the t test, and logistic regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Fall at ground level had a 9.64-fold risk of mandibular condylar fractures (odds ratio, 9.64; P < 0.001). No significant relationship existed between different etiologies and symphysis fracture. All of the etiologies had a low risk to mandibular body fractures (odds radio, <1; P < 0.05). The occurrence of mandibular angle fractures was highly related to patients' age (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of mandibular fractures was highly related to patients' age and the different etiologies.