Maxillofacial injuries associated with all-terrain vehicles

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to report the pattern and frequency of maxillofacial injuries resulting from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) acciden ts, to evaluate the mechanisms of injury, to document the length of hospita l stay, and to characterize other associated injuries in patients presentin g to a level 1 trauma center. Patients and Methods: The records of patients admitted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center from July 1, 1995 through August 1996 with an ATV- related injury were reviewed. Patients were included in the study if the ev ents of their injury, demographic data, and the specifics of their perioper ative care were sufficiently documented to provide the information pertinen t to the investigation. Age, sex, mechanism of injury, facial injuries, ass ociated injuries, and length of stay were the factors considered for the st udy. Results: Seventy-two patients met the criteria for the study. Fifty-nine (8 2%) were male, and 13 (18%) were female. Forty patients required operative intervention. Twenty-five (35%) had soft tissue or bony injuries to the max illofacial region. One mandibular and 13 midface fractures were identified. Twelve of the patients with midface injuries had multiple facial fractures . Orbital floor fractures occurred in seven patients. Two patients required unilateral enucleation of the globe. Ten soft tissue injuries were diagnos ed. Extremity fractures (n = 16) and closed head injuries (n = 17) were the most commonly associated injuries. The length of hospital stay for all the subjects identified in the study averaged 4.7 days. ATV rollover and being thrown from a moving ATV were the most common mechanisms of injury. Conclusions: Head and maxillofacial injuries, particularly midface injuries , are common findings after Ani accidents. Orbital trauma with serious glob e injury was a striking feature of this study. Multiple systems injuries sh ould always be anticipated and identified. The public should be alerted to the hazards of imprudent recreational vehicle use.