Comprehensive examination of etiological factors and clinical manifestations of maxillofacial traumas in forensic cases: A five-year retrospective study.

Background: Maxillofacial injuries, due to their diverse etiological causes, are often considered a component of multi-trauma and constitute a significant portion of trauma. This study aims to elucidate the incidence of maxillofacial traumas, particularly among military personnel, various clinical courses, and characteristics, thereby contributing to the literature.

Methods: Forensic reports, primarily related to military personnel and organized between 2011 and 2016 at the Forensic Medicine Department of Gülhane Medical Faculty, Health Sciences University, were retrospectively examined. The study involved a detailed analysis of cases with maxillofacial injuries resulting from trauma, focusing on aspects such as age, gender, the origin of the trauma, degree of injury, the presence of bone and dental fractures, and the occurrence of psychiatric disorders as a result of the trauma.

Results: This study demonstrated that maxillofacial traumas predominantly occurred in young male individuals, particularly among military personnel. The most common etiological factor identified was interpersonal violence. The majority of injuries were soft tissue damages, with the nasal bone being the most frequently fractured area. Injuries to the head and upper extremities were also detected in some of the cases, showing that multiple injuries are common in such cases. Post-traumatic psychological disorders developed in some cases, with anxiety disorders being the most commonly observed.

Conclusion: It has been determined that maxillofacial injuries can affect multiple body regions, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach. This study underscores the importance of developing comprehensive strategies and policies for understanding and managing maxillofacial traumas, providing a fundamental reference for future studies in this field.