Abstract
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons should give more consideration to maxillofacial fractures from the aspect of occupational and environmental health.
Forty-one cases with work related maxillofacial fractures treated at the Department of Oral Surgery, Ryukyu University Hospital, were reviewed.
They were all males and the majority of the cases were in the twenties to fifties. Mandibular fractures were most frequent (46. 3%). Fracture of the maxilla occurred in 8 cases (14. 8%) and fracture of the zygomatic complex in 15 cases (27. 7%). A comparatively low number (11. 2%) of alveolar fractures was seen.
Yearly distribution of the maxillofacial fractures remarkably paralleled with the changes in the rate of economic growth.
The most common occupation among the patients involved was a factory worker. Thirty nine per cent of the patients sustained fractures at a construction site and falling was the most usual type of accident.
Only 1 case (2. 4%) was referred to the Ryukyu University Hospital from a private dental clinic.
A great number of complications such as tooth fractures, injury or paresthesia of the facial skin, unconsciousness, infection, and fractures other than facial ones were observed.
