Pediatric Maxillofacial Fractures in Western Libya: A retrospective study

Export Objective: The objective of this retrospective study was to analyze the incidence, etiology, and distribution pattern of maxillofacial injuries in the pediatric patients of Ali Omar Askar Neurosurgery Center Esbea in Tripoli, Libya. Methods: Medical records of patients aged 16 or younger who were admitted for facial fractures between 2015 and 2018. Relevant data in relation to demographics, age and sex, etiology/mechanism of injury, and pattern and distribution of injuries were collected. Results: A total of 65 pediatric patients with facial injuries reporting to our trauma center and outpatient department were identified. The majority of these injuries were encountered among boys (75%). Road traffic accidents (RTAs, 61%) were the most common cause of facial fractures, followed by falls (28%). The mandible was the most commonly fractured bone (54%) followed by the midface (16%), and zygomatic-orbital complex and isolated orbital wall fractures (10% each). Conclusions: The significance of such epidemiological analysis lies in the identification of trauma burden in a region, and this would aid in the development of efficient ways to plan resources allocation, deliver comprehensive care, and initiate preventive steps.