Effect of age on the site of mandibular fracture

The mandible is the largest and strongest bone of the face, and it is basically a tubular long bone which is bent into a blunt V-shape. The aim of the study was to study effect of age on the site of mandibular fracture. The study included 100 patients (80 were males and the rest were females) with mandibular injuries admitted to Maxillofacial Unit, Specialized Hospital for Surgery in Baghdad from April 1996 to December 1996. The majority of those patients were of civilian type of injury, and a few of them were of bullet injury. The highest number of patients' age was between 20 to 29 years, males constitute higher numbers than females. The common etiology for mandibular fractures were fight (35%), and fall from height (31%). The common site of single fracture was angle (42.31%), and in the multiple fractures were condyler and parasymphysis (27.27%). Mandibular fracture is more common in younger age group (20-29 years) and then 30-39 years. This study showed that fight and falls are most common cause of mandibular fracture in younger men affecting angle and condylar region.