Ra. Ord et Rm. Benian, BASEBALL BAT INJURIES TO THE MAXILLOFACIAL REGION CAUSED BY ASSAULT, Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, 53(5), 1995, pp. 514-517
Purpose: Baseball bats, although meant for recreational use, are also
frequently used as assault weapons, resulting in multiple types of inj
uries including those in the maxillofacial region. This report reviews
the patients admitted to the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical
Service with maxillofacial injuries caused by blunt trauma from assaul
t with a baseball bat between July 1989 and January 1994. Patients and
Methods: Records of 29 patients were reviewed for age, sex, race, Gla
sgow Coma Scale, associated drug or alcohol use, type of injury, and a
ssociated injuries. Results: In this inner city hospital study it was
found that 18 of the patients (62%) were African-American and that 74%
of the victims had associated alcohol abuse and 38% had associated dr
ug abuse. Of the 29 patients, 27 (93%) were men and 23 (79%) were betw
een the ages of 21 and 40 years. The majority of fractures involved th
e midface region and nearly half the patients had concomitant neurolog
ic injury. Two patients died as a result of their injuries. Conclusion
: Assaults with a baseball bat can result in significant morbidity and
even mortality.