Pattern and presentation of panfacial fractures at a tertiary reference center based in Central Kerala, South India

Aim: We aimed to describe the pattern and clinical presentation of panfacial fractures and to analyze if the panfacial fractures differ from other maxillofacial injuries concerning the time of intervention and duration of hospital stay, thereby evaluating if panfacial fractures place a burden on our hospital which is a tertiary reference center in South India. Materials and methods: This was a prospective study conducted for a duration of two years from January 2018 to January 2020 among 28 patients who reported with panfacial fractures. Descriptive data were entered and chi-square test was done to find out the association between categorical variables. Results: Patients who reported with panfacial fractures were young adults (n = 17, 60.7%), males (92.8%) predominantly. Among those with a history of Road Traffic Accidents (n = 23, 82%), 91% (n = 21) did not use any protective devices. Conclusions: Males, young adults, use of two-wheelers, consumption of alcohol before driving, and avoidance of protective devices were most commonly associated with panfacial fractures (p < 0.05). Based on the study, panfacial fractures place a burden on the hospital in terms of the need for special care and prolonged stay period and operating time compared to other maxillofacial injuries (p < 0.05).