Is age of the patient an independent predictor influencing the management of cranio-maxillo-facial trauma? A retrospective study of 308 patients

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology Vol. 117; no. 6; pp. 690 - 696
• Main Authors: Imholz, Benoît, MD, DMD, Combescure, Christophe, PhD, Scolozzi, Paolo, MD, DMD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-06-2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dentistry; Female; Humans; Male; Maxillofacial Injuries - surgery; Middle Aged; Orthognathic Surgical Procedures; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; Skull Fractures - surgery; Surgery; Switzerland; Treatment Outcome; Switzerland
• ISSN: 2212-4403; 2212-4411
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2014.03.010

Objective To determine whether patient age is an independent predictor of indication for surgical treatment, realization of surgical procedure, and care management modality. Study Design We analyzed data of 308 patients with facial fractures. Patients were classified into four age groups: (1) 17 to 40 years old; (2) 41 to 64 years old; (3) 65 to 80 years old; (4) more than 81 years old. Results Multivariate analysis showed that the patient's age was associated with decreased indication and realization rate for surgery ( P  = .03 in Group 3; P  = .05 in Group 4) and with an increased hospitalization rate ( P  = .004 in Group 3; P  = .02 in Group 4). The presence of concomitant injuries and the fracture's location were associated with a decreased indication and realization rate for surgery regardless age. Conclusion The current study demonstrated that the patient's age was an independent predictor influencing the treatment decision and realization process as well as the care management modality.