Characteristics of Panfacial Fractures in the Elderly: Etiology, Fracture Patterns, Concomitant Injuries, and Postoperative Complication Risk

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Facial trauma, including panfacial fractures caused by high-impact trauma, is increasingly frequent in elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the particularly serious and challenging panfacial fractures on elderly adults. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the files of all patients who were operated for panfacial fractures at our institution from December 2006 to December 2018. The definition of a panfacial fracture was a concurrent fracture in 2 or more locations, including nasoethmoid, frontozygomaticomaxillary, Le Fort I and II, and mandibular fractures. The authors reviewed in-hospital medical records to collect data on the medical history, cause of injury, fracture location, accompanying surgery, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, laboratory results, radiographic studies, and computed tomography scans. RESULTS: A total of 454 patients were enrolled. Among them, 57 (13%) were <19 years old, 304 (72%) were 19 to 60 years old, and 62 (15%) were >60 years old. Compared with younger patients, those aged older than 60 years were more likely to have underlying diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and antiplatelet, and showed a significantly higher proportion of brain hemorrhage, internal organ contusion, surgical site infection, and hematoma after surgery. CONCLUSION: The authors have analyzed the largest number of panfacial fractures in an elderly population so far. The pattern of injury and sequelae of severe facial trauma in elderly patients may be more serious, and the postoperative course more prone to complications than in younger patients. Therefore, more delicate treatment and a high degree of suspicion are needed.