Maxillofacial fractures in the elderly: a comparative study.

Previous maxillofacial trauma research has dealt primarily with facial bone fractures in the general population. Very few studies have specifically addressed maxillofacial fractures in the elderly. We compared 45 elderly (65 years of age or older) and 201 younger adult (16 to 64 years of age) patients admitted to our hospital with maxillofacial fractures. The percentage of patients admitted with nasal bone fractures was much greater in the elderly population, while mandibular fractures were more common in the adult group. Motor vehicle accidents accounted for over half the injuries in both groups, while falls were more prevalent in the elderly. Management of the elderly patient may be complicated by their associated injuries or underlying medical problems, perhaps partially accounting for their longer median length of hospital stay. The elderly are a unique subpopulation of maxillofacial fracture patients and deserve further study regarding their injuries and optimal methods for treatment.