Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Jun 2004
Patterns of maxillofacial injuries related to interaction with horses.
Studies of trauma patients have described patterns of injuries sustained from unfortunate encounters with large animals. However, the patterns of maxillofacial injuries have yet to be reported. The goal of this investigation was to describe and report on maxillofacial injuries that are associated with interaction with horses. ⋯ In patients with facial injuries related to horses, younger females were the most frequently involved. Facial injuries were often associated with other types of injuries. Nearly a third of the facial injuries sustained were fractures. The percentage of riders without a helmet was high. However, in our patient population, wearing a helmet does not seem to add any protection to the face, and almost all of the accidents involved a horse known to the patient. More education aimed at horse owners regarding the use of helmets, proper handling and riding skills, and supervising young riders is encouraged to prevent further injuries.
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J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Jun 2004
Comparative StudyFrequency of maxillofacial injuries in all-terrain vehicle collisions.
We sought to evaluate the frequency and distribution of maxillofacial injuries associated with all-terrain vehicle (ATV) collisions and to compare this with patients involved in motorcycle accidents over the same 5-year period at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Patients and methods The records of all patients involved in ATV collisions who were admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Trauma Center from January 1998 to January 2003 were reviewed. Age, gender, mechanism of injury, length of stay, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, maxillofacial injuries, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and maxillofacial Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score were the factors considered for the study. These variables were also analyzed for patients involved in motorcycle collisions who sustained maxillofacial trauma. ⋯ Maxillofacial injuries are common findings in ATV collisions. ATV patients with maxillofacial fractures have more neurologic impairment at admission and longer hospitalizations than patients sustaining motorcycle injuries. There needs to be an increase in the public health effort to educate individuals about the dangers of ATVs and to provide proper safety guidelines before the purchase of a vehicle.
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J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Jun 2004
Management of cerebrospinal fluid leak associated with craniomaxillofacial trauma.
The management of persistent, post-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and otorrhea remains a surgical challenge. Repair of CSF leaks has evolved from that of an intracranial approach to one that is primarily extracranial and endoscopic. The purpose of this retrospective analysis is to determine the incidence of persistent CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea and assess the clinical outcomes of patients presenting to a level 1 trauma center with posttraumatic CSF leaks who were managed by both surgical and nonsurgical means. ⋯ Post-traumatic CSF leaks are uncommon and will usually resolve without surgical intervention. Successful management in refractory cases often involves a combination of observation, CSF diversion, and/or extracranial and intracranial procedures.