Maxillofacial Injuries in the Pediatric Patient: An Overview

Abstract

Children are uniquely susceptible to craniofacial trauma because of their greater cranial mass-to-body ratio. The pediatric population sustains 1 to 14.7% of all facial fractures. The majority of these injuries are encountered by boys (53.7-80%) who are involved in motor vehicle accidents (up to 80.2%). The incidence of other systemic injury concomitant to facial trauma is significant (10.4-88%). The management of the pediatric patient with maxillofacial injury should take into consideration, the differences in anatomy and physiology between children and adults, the presence of concomitant injury, the particular stage in growth and development (anatomic, physiologic and psychological), and the specific injuries and anatomic sites that the injuries affect. The greatest concern when treating the pediatric patient is the effect of the injury or treatment on growth and development. This is both anatomically and psychologically important and may have various effects on management for the different stages of psychological development.