• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2009

Purpose: In this study, we retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients with facial fractures and suspected cranial injuries in order to determine if there was any relationship between various facial fracture patterns and cranial injuries. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to identify patients diagnosed with facial fractures who underwent cranial computed tomography (CT) scans. Records were reviewed for gender, age, injury mechanism, facial fracture pattern, and presence or absence of cranial injuries. Facial fracture patterns were classified as isolated fractures (tripod, zygomatic arch, maxilla, orbit, and mandible), combined fractures, or total fractures. Cranial injuries included skull fractures, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhages, subdural hemorrhages, epidural hemorrhages, and contusional hemorrhages. All cranial injuries were established by using cranial CT scans, and these kinds of cranial injuries were defined radiologically-proven cranial injuries (RPCIs). We evaluated the relationship between each pattern of facial fractures and the incidence of RPCIs. Results: Of 132 eligible patients with facial fractures who underwent cranial CT scans, a total of 27 (20.5%) patients had RPCIs associated with facial fractures. Falls and slips were the most common causes of the fractures (31.8%), followed by assaults and motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). One hundred one (76.5%) patients had isolated facial fractures, and 31 (23.5%) patients had combined facial fractures. Fractures were found most commonly in the orbital and maxillary bones. Patients with isolated maxillary fractures had a lower incidence of RPCIs than those with total mandibular fractures. RPCIs frequently accompanied combined facial fractures. Conclusion: Combined facial fractures had a significant positive correlation with RPCIs. This means that facial fractures caused by stronger or multidirectional external force are likely to be accompanied by cranial injuries.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.150-158
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• 2006

Purpose: There are two theories about the relationships between facial fractures and cranial injuries. One is that facial bones act as a protective cushion for the brain, and the other is that facial fractures are the marker for increased risk of cranial injury. They have been debated on for many years. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between facial fractures and cranial injuries. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 242 patients with facial fractures. The data were analyzed based on the medical records of the patients: age, gender, cause of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), alcohol intake, type of facial fractures, and type of cranial injury. The patients were divided into two groups: facial fractures with cranial injury and facial fractures without cranial injury. We compared the general characteristics between the two groups and evaluated the relationship between each type of facial fracture and each type of cranial injury. Results: Among the 242 patients with facial bone fractures, 96 (39.7%) patients had a combination of facial fractures and cranial injuries. Gender predilection was demonstrated to favor males: the ratio was 3:1. The mean age was $36.51{\pm}19.63$. As to the injury mechanism, traffic accidents (in car, out of car, motorcycle) were statistically significant in the group of facial fractures with cranial injury (p=0.038, p=0.000, p=0.003). The ISS was significant, but alcohol intake was not significant. No significant relationship between facial fractures and skull fractures was found. Only maxilla fractures, zygoma fractures, and cerebral concussion had a significant difference in cranial injury (p=0.039, p=0.025). Conclusion: There is a no correlation between facial fractures and skull fractures, which suggests that the cushion effect is the predominent relationship between facial fractures and cranial injuries.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.455-460
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• 2007

Purpose: Aging society was realized after persons over 65 was rated above 7% in 2000. It is inevitable fact that society gets older. Few study about facial bone fracture in elderly was reported until now. This study provides a retrospective statistical analysis of facial bone fracture and reports of some demographical information from medical records. Methods: From January 2000 to December 2005, 123 cases of facial bone fracture in above 55 year-old persons were reviewed and analysed. Statistic data was related to distribution, age, sex, causes, occupations, occurrence, time, incidence of facial bone fracture, treatment and it's complications. Results: Facial bone fractures in elderly tend to increase and rated to 4.7%. Facial bone fractures in elderly were most frequently occurred in farmers, cultivator accidents and zygoma fractures. A few minor complications were checked, but easily improved. Conclusion: Facial bone fractures in elderly have small proportion of the whole facial bone fractures, but gradually have been increased. This study was observed trends in changes of facial bone fracture in elderly for 5 years and expected to provide statistical index to prevent facial bone fracture in elderly.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2012

Purpose: Statistical analysis of facial bone fractures has been performed in various papers. However, reports on risk factors for facial bone fractures are rare. In order to prevent facial bone fractures, it is important to determine the risk factors for their occurrence. This study seeks to perform a statistical analysis on and identify the risk factors associated with facial bone fractures. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to assess facial bone fractures in patients presenting from October 2009 to January 2011 through a chart review. The data collected included age, gender, etiology, and alcohol consumption. Data was analyzed using multinomial logistic regression analysis. The significance level was set at p<0.05 and SAS ver. 9.2 was used. Results: A total of 489 patients were analyzed. The patients' age ranged from 2 to 85 years (mean age, $31.8{\pm}15.4$ years). The ratio of men to women was 5.0:1. The predominant group was age below 19 years old (30.9%). The main causes of facial bone fractures were assaults (37.8%), falls (27.2%), and sport accidents (19.5%). On multinomial logistic regression analysis, age, especially in the teen group was associated with assaults (p<0.05) resulting in facial bone fractures. Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with assaults and falls (p<0.05) leading to facial bone fractures. Conclusion: Facial bone fracture is a challenging problem, because of its high incidence and financial cost. The findings of this study indicate that more effective policies aimed at reducing alcohol intake and teenage violence are needed.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 1989

This is a retrospective study on facial bone fractures of Koreans. This study was based on a series of 110 patients who had been treated for facial bone fractures as in-patient at Guro Hospital, School of Medicine, Korea University for the period of September, 1984. to August, 1988. The results were obtained as follows : 1. 2nd decade(42.7%) was the highest age group in incidence, and age range was 2 years to 72 years, and the ration of Male/Female was 3.7 : 1. 2. Falling was most frequent cause of facial bone fractures(40.9%) 3. The frequent location of facial bone fractures were mandibule(67.1%), zygoma & zygomatic arch(11.7%), maxilla(10.9%), and others in order. 4. In mandibular fractures, one site fractures showed 30.1% and two site fractures showed 58.8% and triple site fractures showed 11.1%. The most frequent site of mandibular fracture was symphysis(32.7%) 5. The most frequent month of facial bone fracture was September.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.606-611
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• 2012

Background Facial fractures are infrequent in children and adolescents and have different clinical features from those in adults. The low incidence in children and adolescents reflects the flexibility and underdevelopment of their facial skeletons, as well as their more protected environments. Only a few reports have reviewed such patients in Korea. The authors performed a retrospective study to analyze the characteristics of facial fractures in the Korean pediatric population. Methods We conducted a retrospective review on a series of 741 patients, aged <18 years, with facial fractures who had been treated at our hospital between 2006 and 2010. The following parameters were evaluated: age, sex, cause, location and type of fractures, associated injuries, treatment and complications. Results A total of 741 consecutive patients met the inclusion criteria. The ratio of boys to girls was 5.7:1. Facial fractures most commonly occurred in patients between 13 and 15 years of age (36.3%). The most common causes of injury was violence. The nasal fracture was the most common type of fracture (69%) and the blowout fracture was the second most common (20%). Associated injuries occurred in 156 patients (21%). Conclusions The incidence of pediatric facial fractures caused by violence is high in Korea. Our results show that as age increases, etiological factors and fracture patterns gradually shift towards those found in adults. This study provides an overview of facial fractures in these age groups that helps illustrate the trends and characteristics of the fractures and may be helpful in further evaluation and management.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2005

The proper management of the pediatric facial bone fracture is critical in the facial bone development. This study characterizes the surgically treated patient population suffering from facial bone fractures by the use of current data from a large series consisting of 201 cases. The data was gathered through a retrospective chart review of patients surgically treated for facial bone fractures at the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Sanggye Paik hospital, Inje university medical center, collected over 10-years period from January, 1993 to December, 2002. Data regarding patient demographics(age, sex), seasonal distribution, location of fractures, and the causes of injury with admission periods, were collected. In total, there were 201cases of pediatric facial bone fractures. Male patients outnumbered female patients by a 5.48: 1 ratio and were found to engage in a wider range of behaviors that resulted in facial bone fractures. Physical violence was the leading cause of pediatric facial bone fractures(27.9%), followed by sports-related mechanisms (22.9%) and falling down(17.9%). The most prevalent age group was 11-15 years-old(71.1%) and there was a 14.3% prevalence in March. Among the location of fractures, the nasal bone was the most prevalent, accounting for 82.3% of injuries, followed by the orbit(9.95%), and the mandible fractures(7.5%). Most patients(59.7%) were treated within 6-9 days after trauma and the mean hospitalization period was 8-11 days. We should follow up the surgically treated patients, and they will be further evaluated about postoperative sequele and effect on the facial bone development. These studies demonstrate differences in the demographics and clinical presentation that, if applied to patients, will enable a more accurate diagnosis and proper management.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 1989

This is a series of continuing research on facial bone fractures of Koreans worked by Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Dental College of Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, since 1972. The study was based on a series of 630 patients with facial bone fractures treated as in-patient at Yonsei Medical Center, Yonsei University, during the period of Jan., 1982 through Dec., 1987. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The ratio of Men to Women was 4.3 : 1, and admissions for facial bone fractures have been increased year after 1984. 2. The age frequency was highest in the third decade(38.3%), and fourth, second, fifth decade in orders. 3. The traffic accident was the most frequent cause of facial bone fractures (51.3%). 4. The most common location of facial bone fractures was the Mandible(35.3%), and Zygoma complex(29.8%), Nasal bone(15.0%), Maxilla(11.0%) were next in order of frequency. 5. In 291 patients of Mandible fractures, 226(77.7%) had fractures only in Mandible and 65(22.3%) had another facial bone fractures. The most frequent fracture site of Mandible was the Symphysis(43.0%) and Angle(22.4%), and Simple fracture was the most frequent in type of fracture(66.9%). Intermaxillary fixatin & Open reduction was major method of treatment(36.9%). 6. In 394 patients of Midface fractures 323)82.0%) had fractures only in Midface and 71(18.0%) had another facial bone fractures. The most frequent site of Midface fractures was zygoma complex & zygomatic arch(42.7%), and Simple fracture was the most common type of fractures. Observation(Maxilla :44.2%, Zygoma :51.0%) and Open Reduction(Maxilla :20.0%. Zygoma :23.5%) were the major method of treatment. 7. The frequency of Nasal bone fracture was about 1/5 of Midface fractures, and Closed Reduction(45.2%) was the major method of treatment. 8. The complication was reported in only 16 patients, and Malunion was the major complication. 9. Head(44.4%), Lower extrimities(14.5%) and Eye(12.3%) were injured commonly with facial bone fractures. 10. The elapsed time from injury to hospital was within 24 hours in 73.8% of patients, however 15.5% of patients arrived the hospital 72 hours after injury.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.411-417
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• 2016

Background Facial hypoesthesia is one of the most troublesome complaints in the management of facial bone fractures. However, there is a lack of literature on facial sensory recovery after facial trauma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the facial sensory recovery period for facial bone fractures using Neurometer. Methods Sixty-three patients who underwent open reduction of zygomatic and blowout fractures between December 2013 and July 2015 were included in the study. The facial sensory status of the patients was repeatedly examined preoperatively and postoperatively by Neurometer current perception threshold (CPT) until the results were normalized. Results Among the 63 subjects, 30 patients had normal Neurometer results preoperatively and postoperatively. According to fracture types, 17 patients with blowout fracture had a median recovery period of 0.25 months. Twelve patients with zygomatic fracture had a median recovery period of 1.00 month. Four patients with both fracture types had a median recovery period of 0.625 months. The median recovery period of all 33 patients was 0.25 months. There was no statistically significant difference in the sensory recovery period between types and subgroups of zygomatic and blowout fractures. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the sensory recovery period according to Neurometer results and the patients' own subjective reports. Conclusions Neurometer CPT is effective for evaluating and comparing preoperative and postoperative facial sensory status and evaluating the sensory recovery period in facial bone fracture patients.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2007

Today, endoscopic procedures are common in diagnostic and other surgical procedures, with endoscopically enhanced and magnified images permitting surgical access through minimal incisions. This has expanded the treatment options for many difficult anatomic sites, and the endoscope facilitated safe anatomic reduction and fixation. The use of the endoscope may reduce the disadvantages of open fracture repair and should be considered for broad application in the treatment of displaced facial bone fractures. Optical endoscopic magnification minimizes the disadvantages associated with open surgical repair, including the risk of facial nerve injury and external facial scarring, and no postoperative complications have been attributable to the endoscopic approach. This technique was used in 14 patients treated at Ulsan University Hospital, Korea, from September 2004 to August 2006, including six mandibular subcondyle fractures, five blowout fractures and three zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures. Careful preoperative evaluation and proper surgical technique were essential to achieve optimal results in the selected patients.