sama dabagh

Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Traumatic brain injuries have multifactorial injury mechanisms and are often associated with other injuries. A large proportion of patients who suffer from traumatic brain injury also have facial injuries. Due to the anatomical proximity of the face and skull, patients with facial injuries are expected to be at higher risk for brain injuries. The present study was performed with the aim of investigating the relationship between facial and cranial fractures and brain consequence in head trauma patients.

 This is an analytical cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of patients with skull and facial injuries due to head trauma. Fractures of the skull and face were classified into two categories: mandibular and middle part of the face. Brain consequence was considered as intracranial concussion and injury. Age, sex, mechanism of trauma, time and type of fracture, associated clinical symptoms, and level of consciousness of patients were recorded. Data were analyzed using STATA software.

Out of 1625 patients with head injuries, 958 (60%) suffered facial and skull fractures. 700 people (71%) suffered brain injuries following a head injury, of which only 29% had no brain consequences. 50% of brain outcomes following facial and cranial bone fractures together, cranial bone fractures accounted for 29%, and facial fractures accounted for 21% of total brain outcomes. Most patients had brain concussions. Local pain was the most common symptom (75.2%). Overall, 36% of all facial fractures and 88% of skull fractures resulted in brain outcome.

 There is a direct relationship between cranial and facial bone fractures and brain consequences in head trauma patients and concussion was the most common brain outcome in these patients. Urgent and timely measures are required in patients with skull and facial bone fractures to reduce the consequences and brain damage.