Epidemiology of facial fracture injuries.

PURPOSE

Injuries resulting from accidents are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to present epidemiologic estimates of hospital-based emergency department (ED) visits for facial fractures in the United States.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample for 2007 was used. All ED visits with facial fractures were selected. Demographic characteristics of these ED visits, causes of injuries, presence of concomitant injuries, and resource use in hospitals were examined. All estimates were projected to national levels and each ED visit was the unit of analysis.

RESULTS

During 2007 in the United States, 407,167 ED visits concerned a facial fracture. Patients' average age for each ED visit was 37.9 years. Sixty-eight percent of all ED visits concerned male patients, and 85,759 ED visits resulted in further treatment in the same hospital. Three hundred fourteen patients died in EDs, and 2,717 died during hospitalization. Mean charge per each ED visit was $3,192. Total United States ED charges were close to $1 billion. Mean hospitalization charges (ED and inpatient charges) amounted to $62,414. Mean length of stay was 6.23 days, and total hospitalization time in the entire United States was 534,322 days. Frequently reported causes of injuries included assaults (37% of all ED visits), falls (24.6%), and motor vehicle accidents (12.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

The management of maxillofacial fractures in EDs across the United States uses considerable resources. The public health impact of facial fractures is highlighted in the present study.