An epidemiologic study of maxillofacial trauma at University Medical Center in Lafayette, a regional referral center.

The authors retrospectively reviewed maxillofacial trauma admissions at University Medical Center in Lafayette, Louisiana, a Level II trauma center, over the 2-year period from July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1992. This study encompassed 208 fractures in 166 patients. All patients in this study group required surgical intervention for their maxillofacial injury. Variables examined in this cohort included age, race, gender, seasonal variation, fracture location, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, seatbelt utilization, substance abuse, surgical management, complications, operative duration, hospital stay, hour of presentation, and preoperative imaging modalities. The purpose of our study is to provide an epidemiologic review of maxillofacial trauma in the Acadian community of southwestern Louisiana.