Epidemiological Patterns and Etiology of Facial Fractures: A 7-Year Retrospective Study in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract Background Facial trauma represents a significant public health concern, with high incidence and complex etiologies influenced by sociodemographic factors. Understanding epidemiologic patterns is essential for effective prevention and management. Objective To evaluate the epidemiologic profile, anatomic distribution, and etiology of facial fractures treated over a 7-year period in Brazil. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 1,005 medical records from patients presenting with facial fractures between February 2016 and February 2023 at a tertiary referral center. Inclusion criteria included pediatric and adult patients of both sexes with trauma-related facial fractures. Cases with incomplete documentation were excluded. Data on sex, fracture site, and etiology were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square tests (p-value < 0.05). Results A total of 1,005 patients were evaluated, 745 (74.1%) were male and 260 (25.9%) female. Nasal fractures were most common (38.1%), followed by zygomatic (18.2%), mandibular (13.1%), multiple fracture patterns (8.9%), and maxillary fractures (4.3%). Less frequent sites included orbital (7.9%), condylar (5.1%), frontal (3.0%), naso-orbito-ethmoidal (0.9%), skull base (0.3%), and zygomatic arch fractures (0.3%). Males predominated across all fracture types, with significant sex–site association ( p < 0.001). Falls from height were the leading cause (28.1%), followed by interpersonal violence (24.8%) and motorcycle accidents (12.4%). Etiology also demonstrated significant sex association ( p < 0.001), with males more frequently injured in high-energy trauma. Conclusion Nasal and zygomatic fractures were the most prevalent, with males disproportionately affected. Falls from height and interpersonal violence were the primary etiologies. These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies addressing both accidental and violence-related facial trauma in high-risk populations, although the absence of age data limited stratification of these findings by age group.