Abstract:
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 violence27.6% (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
area.
