Epidemiology of oral and maxillofacial trauma: analysis of expert reports from the Instituto Médico Legal de Salvador, Bahia, 2007 to 2013

Abstract

Objective: To perform a survey of the maxillofacial lesions registered at the Medical Legal Institute of Salvador, Bahia, to establish the epidemiological profile of the occurrences.

Material and methods: Documentary analysis of 3600 reports issued between 2007 and 2013. Sociodemographic characteristics, etiology of the occurrence, anatomical region and type of tissue affected, etiological agent, damage and result were evaluated.

Results: The main etiology of maxillofacial trauma was aggression (74.18%), involving in most cases men (56.06%), young adults (80.72%), affecting the dental region (61%), using blunt agents (92.72%), resulting in damage (86.57%) classified as mild (51.60%). There was a significant association (p<0.05) between the etiology of the occurrence and the variables gender, age group, residential area, affected anatomical region, type of tissue affected, etiologic agent, damage and result. There was a high prevalence of occurrences of domestic violence against women, while traffic accidents showed an increasing trend in cases that resulted in serious injuries.

Conclusion: Assaults and traffic accidents represent the main causes of trauma and this knowledge can contribute to the development of preventive strategies, in addition to raising society’s awareness of the problem, aiming to reduce violence, deaths, injuries and potentially preventable disabilities.