Trends in emergency room visits of oral and maxillofacial surgery patients in a tertiary hospital in South-East Nigeria

Background: The accident and emergency unit is usually the first port of call for patients involved in road traffic and domestic accidents, emergency dental conditions, and advanced-stage malignancies during call hours and weekends. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of emergency maxillofacial injuries in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. Materials and Methods: This is a 3-year retrospective study of patients that presented to the accident and emergency unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu on account of pathologies involving the oral and maxillofacial region. Results: One hundred and eighty-three cases were recruited into the study. There were 131 males and 52 females. The mean age of the patients was 38.0 ± 18.6 years. The majority 121 (66.1%) occurred due to road traffic accidents followed by 18 (9.8%) due to complications of untreated carious teeth, then 12 (6.6%) from complications of advanced-stage tumors. Facial bone fractures 76 (41.5%) followed by lacerations 42 (23.0%) were the commonest conditions seen. Eighty-four (45.9%) had reduction and immobilization of their fractures, whereas 51 (27.8%) had suturing of various lacerations. Conclusions: Pathologies resulting from road traffic accidents, orofacial space infections, and late-stage malignancies were the commonest indications for accident and emergency unit visits by oral and maxillofacial surgery patients in the study center. The need for regular training of first-line staff in the emergency units of hospitals in this part of the world is necessary.