Patterns and trends in facial fractures in New Zealand between 1999 and 2009.

Objectives: To describe patterns and trends in facial fractures in New Zealand over a decade.

Method: A secondary analysis of Ministry of Health data on facial fractures occurring between 30 June 1999 and 1 July 2009. Patient demographic characteristics and the details of injury were analysed and described.

Results: Over the study period, the incidence of injury was constant. A total of 26,637 facial fractures were recorded. Most (79%) occurred in males, giving a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. Peak injury rates for both males and females, coincide with the legal alcohol purchasing age. Interpersonal violence (IPV) was the leading cause of facial fractures, accounting for 38%; it increased steadily each year. The number of fractures attributed to sports/other, and road traffic accidents (RTA) had fallen. Māori still continue to experience a disproportionate rate of facial fractures, twice that of the NZ European population.

Conclusions: Interpersonal violence is an increasing problem in NZ and contributes to a greater number of facial fractures each year. More measures are required to reduce the number of IPV-related injuries. Perhaps the most effective would be to return the legal alcohol purchasing age to 20 years. More is also required to reduce facial fractures in the high-risk injury groups of young adults, males, and Māori.