Accidents up,facial trauma cases too

Maxillofacial trauma is any physical trauma to the face and it can involve burns,bruises or fractures. It can lead to disfigurement and loss of function like blindness or difficulty in moving the jaw. Maxillofacial fractures are commonly caused by road accidents,assaults,sports,industrial accidents and warfare. The study found that road accidents were the commonest cause (314 fractures – 87 per cent),followed by inter-personal violence (22 – six per cent),fall and accidental injuries (14 – four per cent) and sports injuries (11 – three per cent). Injuries due to violent offences,which were 3.2 per cent in 2004,had almost doubled to six per cent in 2008.

The analysis,results of which were published in the January issue of the Medical Journal of the Armed Forces of India (MJAFI),also pointed at the predominance of two-wheeler accidents,besides non-wearing of helmets and the rise in number of vehicles. A total of 59 (16.3 per cent) patients suffered closed head injury while 17 (4.7 per cent) suffered panfacial fractures.

The researchers have cited other studies showing a dip in maxillofacial injuries in road accidents with preventive measures such as wearing seat belts,crash helmets,enforcement of law on drunken driving and use of mobile phones while driving. Better road conditions and passive safety devices of automobiles (airbags,safety glass) also contribute to preventing such injuries while advanced treatments directly translate into effective management of them.

Cross-infection in dental clinics
A pilot study conducted by the Department of Dental Surgery,AFMC,to assess the risk of cross-infection in dental clinics has found a significant amount of aerosol and water contamination. It also found that there was a reduction after infection-control methods were applied.