Fractures of the Craniofacial Skeleton in the Elderly: Retrospective Studies

Abstract

The aim of the retrospective analysis of the medical documentation of 101 patients was to assess the incidence, etiology, and type of craniofacial fractures in the elderly population of southern Poland, who required specialist treatment at the Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland, in the period 2010–2019. Patients were divided into 3 age groups: 65–74, 75–84, and 85 and older. The following was noted: age, sex, place of residence, education, cause and location of fracture, treatment, injuries and comorbidities, complications, alcohol and other drugs at the time of injury, and the period of hospitalization. The dominant group were patients aged 65–74 (72.28%), mainly males (56.44%). The main cause was fall (47.52%). The fractures involved mainly the mandible and the zygomaticomaxillary complex. Over half of patients (50.50%) lived in the countryside or small towns. Work tool-related accidents prevailed among geriatric patients living in small towns and rural areas. Craniofacial fractures were additionally accompanied by common complications regarding the organ of vision. Further studies analyzing factors leading to increased risk of craniofacial injuries in the elderly of the rural population will enable proper support programs, prophylaxis, and principles concerning agricultural activities.

Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of facial fractures: a retrospective cohort study

“…The growth in the number of motorcycle accidents during the pandemic may be explained by the increase in online shopping, resulting in a greater distribution of motorized deliverymen in urban regions [ 26 , 27 ]. However, our study identified a statistically significant association between physical aggression and age between 30 and 39 in 2019, in agreement with previous results that highlight more fractures by aggression in this age [ 28 , 29 ]. In 2020, no statistical significance was observed between age groups and trauma etiologies ( x ² (28) = 35.24; p =0.163; Table 3 ), contradicting the study by Canzi et al [ 30 ] in 2021 in Milan, in which there was an increase in the average age of trauma in 2020 during the Lockdown period.…”

“…The nasal bone is placed in the sagittal area of the face and has less bone thickness, making it less resistant to trauma impact [ 26 ]. The nasal bone tissue is susceptible to low-speed fractures or high kinetic load; in this case, it causes quadrangular cartilage fractures, so such factors contribute to the increased incidence of fractures in this area [ 27 , 28 ].…”

Characteristics and Patterns of Facial Fractures in the Elderly Population in the United States Based on Trauma Quality Improvement Project Data

“…This could be because these fractures are most common among the edentulous, and trauma can exacerbate the poor dietary selection and malnutrition inherent in this population. 31,32 This mortality risk may also be the impetus for increased operative management in comparison to other fracture types. Although additional research must be completed to confirm this hypothesis, these concomitant issues may be the driving force behind the increased mortality rate associated with mandibular fractures.…”

Prevalence of Craniofacial Injuries in the Elderly Population

“…Furthermore, those aged 75 or above versus those aged 65 to 74 were far more likely to injure the mandible (71% vs. 38%), and less likely to injure the ZMC (36% vs. 40%) and orbit (21% vs. 36%). Men were significantly more likely to sustain maxillary fractures than women (46% vs. 18%) 27 …”