Objective: To establish the aetiology, pattern and methods of management of oral and Maxillofacial injuries (OMFIs) seen at the Oral and Jaw injuries unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH) Kampala, Uganda, over a ten year period.
Design: A descriptive retrospective study.
Setting: Oral and jaw injury unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Results: One thousand two hundred and three patient records met the inclusion. criteria. The age range was 1-90 years with a male: female ratio of 4.5:1. The age-group most affected was the 21-30-year-olds. Road traffic injuries (RTIs) were responsible for 61% (n = 735 of the injuries, interpersonal violence 27.6% (n = 332), accidental falls 12% (n = 142) and firearm injuries 2.2% (n = 27). Of the maxillofacial fractures (n = 1069) isolated mandibular fractures were 62%, isolated mid-facial fractures 24% whereas Pan-facial fractures accounted for 14%.
Conclusion: The victims of OMFIs were mostly young men between 21 and 30 years of age. The main aetiological factors were road traffic injuries (RTIs) and interpersonal violence (IPV), while the lower third of the face was most often involved. Consistent with findings in other studies, RTI and IPV remain the two main causes of Maxillofacial injuries and public health measures targeting prevention should focus on these areas.