Presently a large number of statistical observations and case reports on mandibular fractures have been made public. To our knowledge, however, none of these published studies was made in private hospitals which are prepared to accept emergency patients.
Under such circumstances, the authors recently performed a statistical analysis of 70 patients with mandibular fractures who visited our department in a 5 year period from May 1980 (When our hospital opened) to April 1985. The results were as follows:
(1) Mandibular fracture was seen in 70 of the 100 patients with maxillofacial fractures.
(2) The largest portion (40.0%) of patients were between 10 and 19 years of age; traffic accident was the predominant injury cause (61.4%).
(3) In a majority (58.7%) of patients, the number of fracture line was one; the predominant fracture site was the articular process (29.5%).
(4) The largest portion of patients with multiple maxillofacial fractures had fractures in the mandibular and maxilla.
(5) The teeth on the fracture line could be preserved in 87.9% of the cases.
(6) The largest portion (87.2%) of patients were hospitalized the same day injury occurred; reduction of fractures was started on the same day in the largest portion (32.9%) of patients. A majority (55.7%) of patients were directly carried from the accident site to our hospital by ambulance.
(7) Closed reduction was applied to 63.0% of patients; the predominant period of fixation was 30-39 days.
(8) The prognosis results were mostly satisfactory according to the examination questionnaire.
