Trends and characteristics of maxillofacial fractures sustained during sports activities in Japan

BACKGROUND/AIM: Sports activity increases the risk of maxillofacial fractures. The aim of this study was to analyze trends and characteristics of maxillofacial fractures sustained during sports activity to develop more effective treatments and possibly to prevent injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 248 patients with maxillofacial fractures sustained during sports activity were retrospectively analyzed based on their clinical records and radiographs. RESULTS: The patients were 226 males (91.1%) and 22 females (8.9%). Their ages ranged from 6 to 70 years and the majority were in their second decade. The fractures were sustained in various sports which included baseball in 85 patients (34.3%), rugby in 40 (16.1%), soccer in 30 (12.1%), softball in 22 (8.9%), golf in 10 (4.0%), hockey in 8 (3.2%), combat sports in 28 (11.3%), and others in 29 (11.7%). The cause of injuries was collision with another player in 97 patients (39.1%), hit by a ball in 89 (35.9%), intended attack in 20 (8.1%), hit by equipment of another player in 15 (6.0%), a fall in 14 (5.6%), and collision with ground equipment in 13 (5.2%). The site of fractures was the mandible in 145 patients (58.5%), midface in 100 (40.3%), and both in 3 (1.2%). Among 210 fracture sites in the mandible, 77 (36.6%) were in the angle, 68 (32.4%) in the symphysis, and 65 (30.9%) in others. Among 103 fractures in the midface, 58 (56.3%) were in the zygoma, 26 (25.2%) in alveolar bone, and 19 (18.4%) in others. Treatment was observation in 67 patients (27.0%), maxillomandibular fixation in 64 (25.8%), open reduction and internal fixation in 63 (25.4%), intramaxillary splinting in 40 (16.1%), transcutaneous reduction in 10 (4.0%), and other procedures in 4 (1.6%). CONCLUSION: Maxillofacial fractures sustained during sports activity showed characteristic features dependent on the type of sport and cause of injury.