Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We sought to present the epidemiology associated with 3599 midfacial and 1141 orbital blowout fractures.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a multicenter, 20-year retrospective analysis of hospitalization data on U.S. Army active duty soldiers.
RESULTS: Men composed 96% of the patients, with men aged 20 to 29 years the most affected. Of midfacial and blowout fractures, 54.8% and 70.2% occurred with concomitant injury, with 36.2% and 50.9% sustaining other facial fractures, respectively. Three hundred forty orbital blowout fractures (29.8%) had an associated eye injury. Common mechanisms included fighting and motor vehicle accidents.
CONCLUSIONS: Young men comprised the most susceptible population, and assault was the predominant mechanism. A high incidence of concomitant injury in midfacial and orbital blowout fractures, particularly ocular and intracranial injury, emphasizes the importance of a thorough physical examination.
SIGNIFICANCE: We report the results from one of the largest series of midfacial and orbital floor blowout fractures from a population that crosses urban, rural, and foreign boundaries.
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