Haug R H, Savage J D, Likavec M J, Conforti P J
Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1992 Mar;50(3):218-22. doi: 10.1016/0278-2391(92)90315-q.
One hundred closed head injuries associated with facial fractures treated over a 78-month period at a level I trauma center in Northeast Ohio were reviewed. The incidence of closed head injury in patients with facial fractures was 17.5%. Males suffered closed head injuries four times more often than females, and sustained severe intracranial injuries eight times as often. The 16- to 30-year age group predominated (59%). Although motor vehicle accidents were the most frequent cause of injury (61%), motorcycle accidents were associated with the most severe head injury. The mandible/midface fracture ratio (1.3:1) was almost half that of the non-head-injured population (2.1:1). Facial fracture complications were found to have a similar incidence (14%) as in the non-head-injured population, but were associated with more severe intracranial injuries.
