Epidemiology Of Motorcycle-Related Maxillofacial Injuries Presenting To The 37 Military Hospital, Ghana

Abstract

Objective: The study examined the epidemiology of motorcycle-related maxillofacial injuries to provide data to guide the prevention and management of maxillofacial trauma. Methodology: The research was a one-year prospective cross-sectional study of patients presenting with motorcycle crash-related maxillofacial injuries. The variables recorded include the demographic data, type of motorcycle collision, day and time of motorcycle crash, location of the crash, role of injured patient, maxillofacial and concomitant injuries sustained. Descriptive statistics were used to ascertain the epidemiology of maxillofacial injuries sustained. Results: A total of 148 patients aged between 15 and 65 years were involved in the study. There was a high male dominance (96%) among patients who sustained maxillofacial injuries secondary to motorcycle-related road traffic crashes (RTC). The median age of the participants was 30.9 +/- 9.1 years. Most (55.6%) of the motorcycle crashes resulted from collisions with cars. Maxillofacial injuries were mostly soft tissue injuries with the midface sustaining the most. Skeletal injuries often occurred in the mandible with parasymphyseal fractures constituting the majority of the mandibular fractures. Conclusion: There is a male predominance in patients with motorcycle-related maxillofacial injuries with a peak age of 21-30 years. Victims of motorcycles crashes often sustain soft tissue injuries with aesthetic and functional implications. Motorcycle crashes contribute significantly to the public health burden of RTC, especially in developing countries like Ghana. Healthcare professionals ought to be conversant with the epidemiology of maxillofacial injuries in motorcycle crash victims to ensure prompt and comprehensive management.