Maxillofacial injuries sustained during soccer: incidence, severity and risk factors

Abstract

A very popular sport worldwide, soccer generates a great number of maxillofacial injuries, mainly fractures, resulting in esthetic or functional problems. The aim of this retrospective study was to contribute to the knowledge of soccer-related maxillofacial injuries, and call attention to the risk factors that favor these injuries. A total of 108 patients, who attended hospital because of maxillofacial injuries during soccer within a period of 8 years, were included in this study. The relationship of the patients with soccer, the type, the site, the severity, the mechanism of the injuries and the applied treatment were analyzed. The injured were all males, and were principally amateurs. Around 89.8% of the patients suffered maxillofacial fractures while 10.2% presented only soft tissue injuries; 13.9% had multiple fractures; 50% of the maxillofacial fractures concerned the zygomatic complex and 38.2% the mandible where the majority occurred at the angle. The prevailing mechanism was the direct impact of players. Head to head impact outnumbered. Elbow to head impact caused contusions of the temporomandibular joint. Kick to head impact was the main cause of multiple fractures. The treatment of fractures was mainly surgical (68.2%). These findings support the fact that maxillofacial injuries sustained during soccer tend to be severe, demanding surgical treatment. The mandibular angle is in danger due to the usual existence of impacted and semi-impacted third molars. There should be a preventive intervention on the above contributors, and mainly coaches and sports physicians should be properly informed about the specificity of the maxillofacial injuries.

Prevalence of dental trauma and mouthguard awareness among weekend warrior soccer players

“…Greater speed and contact increase the risk of trauma. Soccer was found to be associated with high risks of facial and dental injuries (5,13,(15)(16)(17). However, previous studies enrolled professional soccer players and/or coaches.…”

“…Soccer-related injuries represented 20.8% (11 of 53) of all oral and craniofacial injury cases at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Dentistry Faculty, Erzurum, Turkey. Another study, in Greece, reported that 103 of the 173 patients requiring treatment for trauma during an 8-year period were amateur soccer players (13). Lack of proper training and protection may explain this high prevalence among amateur athletes (18).…”

“…Although soccer is not regarded as a violent sport, it is associated with high risks of oral and facial injuries to players (11). The head is frequently used, and head-to-head and elbow-to-face impacts are the most frequent causes of orofacial injuries (12,13).…”

Demographical and clinical aspects of sports-related maxillofacial and skull base fractures in hospitalized patients

“…Stricter regulations are needed to discourage violent play, rather than relying on the use of protective equipment 6,26 . Medical checkups could also contribute to the prevention of sports-related injury if they include the maxillofacial area, and sports coaches and sports physicians should be informed about maxillofacial injuries 25,26 . More studies are needed to investigate the effects of changes in rules and safety standards to provide beneficial information for the prevention of maxillofacial injuries.…”

Dental Trauma and Treatment Needs among Footballers in Baghdad City

“…This result in line with Papakosta et al (17) which reported that 103 of the 173 patients requiring restoration treatment for trauma during an 8-year period were amateur soccer players and these findings is disagreement with Paulo et al, 2014 that reported the high percent of extractions type -51% that need treatment. This study is the first study to represented information about dental treatment need among footballers therefore, on previous data to compare with finding of the study.…”