A 3-year survey of assault-related maxillofacial fractures in central Switzerland

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse the character of assault-related facial fractures in central Switzerland and to compare their prevalence with the data presented in similar reports from other countries. MATERIAL: The present study comprised 65 patients with assault-related maxillofacial fractures treated in the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Bern between 2000 and 2002. METHODS: The mechanism, the causes of the injuries and the location of the fractures were analysed by reviewing emergency and hospital records. Concomitant injuries were also studied. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 33 years with the largest group being below 25 years. The male-to-female ratio was 56:9. The most common causes of assault-related injuries were fights, most frequently facial blows, accounting for 92.5% of all patients. Seventy-six per cent of the fractures occurred in the middle and upper facial skeleton with a predominance of 2:1 for the left side. In 39 patients (60%) surgery was necessary, with a mean hospital stay of 3.3 days. Thirty-five patients (54%) had concomitant injuries. Alcohol and drug abuse was found in 15 patients (23%). CONCLUSION: It seems that mostly young men suffer assault-related maxillofacial injuries. A contributing factor to the increased disposition for violence could be alcohol and drug abuse. Therefore, national prevention programmes for alcohol or drug abuse and addiction might have a positive effect on reducing the incidence of assault-related maxillofacial injuries.

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1915

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1913

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1920

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1919

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1921

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1923

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1908

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1910

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1922

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1914

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1909

Report on the progress and condition of the U.S. National Museum for the year ending June 30 ... / Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum.

1907

Plenary papers of the 1999 Conference on Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation--enhancing policy and practice through research.

"Sept. 2000" (v. 3).

Wide scope, questionable quality : three reports from the study on school violence and prevention : executive summary /

"Doc #2002-21."