INTRODUCTION: Facial trauma has grown in importance for Plastic Surgery, especially in the last four decades, being closely connected with the increase of traffic accidents and urban violence. This study aims to establish a profile of patients who have suffered such trauma. METHODS: We analyzed 194 cases of facial trauma seen at a referral hospital in Fortaleza (Ceará), between 2005 and 2009. Data were intertwined and classified using the programs Excel 2003 and Epi Info version 6.04. RESULTS: The mean age was 30.35 years, ranging from 4 to 71 years. Men were responsible for 80.4%, and the proportion male/female was 4.1:1. Seniors and children account for 5.7%. Trauma-related traffic accidents were prevalent (60.31%), especially motorcycle accidents, which account for 44.80% of the total. Interpersonal violence was the second cause, with 18.6%. The majority in the study was patients from the interior of the state (57.2%), however, the capital had a higher proportion of fractures related to interpersonal violence (66.66%). The bone was the most common jaw (30.49%), followed by nasal bone (22.2%) and zygoma (17.5%). The lesion most closely associated with facial trauma was ECA (21.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of facial fractures can be reduced by educational measures, as the routine use of seat belts and helmets; by lower consumption of alcohol and strategies to deal with hostile situations in order to avoid increasing interpersonal violence.
Face; Facial Injuries; Facial Bones
