African Journal of Trauma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2015  |  Volume : 4  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 1--5

Management of maxillofacial and orthopedic injuries: Is there a need for maxillofacial units in orthopedic hospitals?


OD Osunde, AA Efunkoya, KU Omeje, IO Amole 
 Department of Dental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Calabar and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Bayero University and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Dr. O D Osunde
Department of Dental Surgery, Maxillofacial Unit, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar
Nigeria

Background: The study compared the pattern of consultation and the treatment outcome of maxillofacial patients referred by different orthopedic units. Materials and Methods: All consecutive major trauma patients referred from two orthopedic units to the maxillofacial unit of our institution, over a 4-year period, was retrospectively analyzed. Patients' demographics, time, and types of injury, the time interval between injury and maxillofacial consultation, time of treatment, and anesthesia requirement were obtained. Results: Of the 156 referred cases, there were 138 (88.5%) males and 18 (11.5%) females with a male: female ratio of 7.7:1. Their ages ranged from 12 to 66 years, mean 34.5 (9.89) years. Road traffic accident (n = 145; 92.9%) was the most common etiology. Mandibular (n = 87; 55.8%) and zygomatic (n = 30; 19.2%) fractures were the most predominant maxillofacial injuries. For the orthopedic injuries, lower limb fracture were the commonest (60.9%). Majority (n = 66; 91.7%) of patients co-managed with the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Team were seen within 24 h compared to a period of 4 days to over 1-week for patients referred from National Orthopedic Hospital (NOH). The mean period required to treat maxillofacial patients referred from NOH was significantly longer than for intra-hospital consultation (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Establishment of maxillofacial units in trauma and orthopedic hospitals will improve the overall management of the multiple trauma patients that may occasionally present with concomitant maxillofacial injuries.


How to cite this article:
Osunde O D, Efunkoya A A, Omeje K U, Amole I O. Management of maxillofacial and orthopedic injuries: Is there a need for maxillofacial units in orthopedic hospitals?.Afr J Trauma 2015;4:1-5


How to cite this URL:
Osunde O D, Efunkoya A A, Omeje K U, Amole I O. Management of maxillofacial and orthopedic injuries: Is there a need for maxillofacial units in orthopedic hospitals?. Afr J Trauma [serial online] 2015 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];4:1-5
Available from: https://www.afrjtrauma.com/article.asp?issn=1597-1112;year=2015;volume=4;issue=1;spage=1;epage=5;aulast=Osunde;type=0