PATTERN OF MANDIBULAR FRACTURES IN A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HEALTH INSTITUTION; A 4-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background: According to surveys, mandibular injuries aetiology varies between countries and even between centers in the same country. Mandibular fractures are the second most frequent facial injury, accounting for 15.5% to 59% of all facial fractures globally. The study aimed to find out if there were predictable patterns of fractured in the north central part of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Mandibular fracture patients treated during a 4-year period were identified in a retrospective analysis and examined based on factors including age, sex, mode of trauma, month and day of the week of presentation, number and anatomic location, treatment method and sequelae. Results: The study reviewed 75 participants between the ages of 2 and 70. The mean age was 30.69 ± 11.22 years, and the gender split was 70 males (93.20%) and 5 females (6.80%), with a p-value of 0.09.  The main cause was motorbike accident (68%) and head on collision was the major mechanism of trauma road traffic accidents (RTAs, 68.8%) and none of motorbike riders nor did passengers wear crash helmet. A total of ninety-nine fractures out of one hundred and six fractures were observed in males.  A small percentage of patients (33%) exhibited altered consciousness, however there was no statistically significant link between the aetiology and level of consciousness (p=0.818). Conclusion: The mandibular body was most severely impacted and the primary mechanism of injury was head-on collision between two motorbikes. Speed restrictions and legislative law should be placed on the use of crash helmet.