BACKGROUND: Mandible fractures can result in esthetic, functional and financial problems and their epidemiological patterns have changed in many locations. This study was carried out to detect these changes, aiming to compare data of patients with mandible fractures treated at the São Paulo Hospital (UNIFESP-EPM) from June 1999 to March 2002 with data of patients treated from January 1991 to March 1996. METHODS: Information on most affected gender and age, most often fractured mandible segment, associated injuries, treatment and complications of 98 victims of mandible fracture admitted from June 1999 to March 2002 were compared to the same data of 166 patients treated from January 1991 to March 1996. RESULTS: the most affected gender and age ranges remain the same. Aggressions surpassed traffic accidents as the main etiology. Incidence of associated injuries and multiple fractures in the mandible decreased, a fact probably related to the change in etiology. The most affected segment is still the body of the mandible. The most used type of treatment in both samples was internal rigid fixation with miniplates and the number of complications decreased, due to the higher standard of patient care. CONCLUSION: Mandible fractures in the São Paulo population have undergone epidemiological changes and this knowledge enables local authorities to establish adequate measures for prevention and treatment.
Fractures; Mandible; Epidemiology; Treatment
