Elderly patients with facial trauma: a 10 year review

Abstract Objective: to analyze the epidemiological profile of geriatric patients with facial trauma treated at a Maxillofacial Surgery Department in southern Brazil over a period of 10 years. Methods: a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients aged over 60 years treated for facial trauma in the period from January 2001 to December 2010 was performed. Result: of a total of 1,385 analyzed medical records of patients with facial trauma, 86 (6.2%) belonged to the group aged 60-89 years. The male gender was the most affected and the age group 60-69 years was the most frequently involved. The middle third was the most affected, and the zygomatic bone was the most commonly fractured. Conclusion: special attention should be given to the 60-69 age group, as while such patients present physiological changes inherent to aging, they remain active in society and exposed to risk factors for facial trauma.