Facial Fractures Secondary to Bicycle Accidents

Abstract

Objectives:

(1) Determine the incidence of facial fractures. (2) Characterize the type of craniofacial injuries due to bicycle trauma.

Methods:

Using CPT codes, we completed a query of facial fractures treated at a tertiary medical center between 1999 and 2012. Individual chart review of 1108 patients revealed 28 patients who were treated for facial fractures secondary to bicycle accidents.

Results:

Of the 28 patients identified, 86% (n = 24) were male and 14% (n = 4) were female. The median age was 27.5 with a range from 4 to 78 years. Male patients between the ages of 13 and 39 showed the highest incidence of injury. Alcohol was involved in 18% (n = 5) of cases. A total of 18 (64%) patients were hospitalized, with 28% (n = 5) of hospitalized patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The most common injury type was nasal fracture (46%, n = 13), and the craniofacial region most commonly injured was the mid-face (50%, n = 14), with tripod fractures (36%, n = 5) and Le Fort I fractures (29%, n = 4) as the most likely injuries. Ejection from the bicycle was the most common mechanism of injury cited (50%, n = 14). Though only 18% (n = 15) of patients were involved in a collision with a motorized vehicle, all of these patients required hospitalization. Complex surgery was required in 54% (n = 15) of patients. Nine patients (32%) required closed reduction of a fracture and 4 (14%) underwent maxillomandibular fixation.

Conclusions:

Bicycle accidents can cause significant craniofacial injuries with many patients requiring hospitalization and surgery, especially when a motor vehicle is involved.