Maxillofacial injuries and traumatic brain injury – a pilot study

Abstract

Patients with maxillofacial injuries with or without facial fractures are at risk of acute or delayed traumatic brain injury. All patients should always have proper radiological investigations together with a proper observation and follow-up schedule.

A retrospective analysis of the relationship between facial injury and mild traumatic brain injury

“…Some researchers have described the face as a cushion against external forces inflicted to the head, in that it protects the neurocranium from injuries by absorbing the impact of the force . Others have proposed that facial fractures increase the risk of TBI …”

“…The sample size was calculated using a single proportion formula. The prevalence of patients with facial injury without the presence of TBI at 69.0% was used at the precision of 5% and confidence level of 95% (Zα=1.96), indicating that a minimum sample size of 329 records was needed. Thus with the anticipation of 10% of records having incomplete data, a total of 361 medical records were included.…”

“…Modification (ICD-10-CM) 18 Facial injuries comprised soft or/and hard tissue injuries that extended from the frontal to the mandibular region. 6 The facial bones could be further divided into three zones, namely the upper face which involved the frontal bone, the midface (maxilla, orbit, zygoma and nasal bone) and the lower face (mandible). 6,19 The soft tissue injuries (STI) were classified as abrasion, contusion or haematoma, laceration and avulsion.…”

“…6 The facial bones could be further divided into three zones, namely the upper face which involved the frontal bone, the midface (maxilla, orbit, zygoma and nasal bone) and the lower face (mandible). 6,19 The soft tissue injuries (STI) were classified as abrasion, contusion or haematoma, laceration and avulsion. 20 As with the facial bone zones, the soft tissue zones were described similarly: the upper face (UF) region extending from the hair line to the supraorbital region, the midface (MF) from the level of supraorbital rim to the upper lip and the lower face (LF), from the lower lip to the inferior border of mandible.…”

“…The face has a very close relationship with the head. The presence of facial injuries has been shown to increase the odds and risks of sustaining traumatic brain injury (TBI) …”