Aim: This study evaluated records of patients with maxillofacial trauma due to interpersonal violence (IPV) being treated in the emergency room of a level I trauma center hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.
Material and methods: Data of patients with maxillofacial trauma due to IPV recorded between January 2019 and December 2019 were retrospectively examined. Personal data, days on which they experienced IPV, and the type of maxillofacial trauma sustained were extracted and statistically analyzed (p < .050).
Results: During the analysis, 1034 patients with maxillofacial trauma were identified; of these patients, 292 (28.2%) who experienced trauma due to IPV were included in this study. There was a mean age of 32.6 years and the most common type of trauma was soft tissue injuries (38.7%). Mandible and nose fractures were more prevalent in males and females, respectively. Our data, when compared with other studies on maxillofacial trauma due to IPV, showed a lower prevalence and male-to-female ratio, and a higher presence of dentoalveolar trauma. Additionally, our data when compared with studies on maxillofacial trauma due to other causes showed lower mean age and male-to-female ratios, and a higher occurrence of nose fractures differing from the predominance of mandibular fractures.
Conclusion: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must be able to suspect and identify cases due to IPV among their patients with trauma. With our results, although each case has its individuality, we can suggest that cases of maxillofacial trauma in young, female, and nasal fracture patients may be suspicious for IPV.
Keywords: epidemiology studies; interpersonal violence; jaw fractures; maxillofacial trauma; zygomatic fractures.
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