Bicyclists at High Risk for Suffering Maxillofacial Injuries

Maxillofacial fractures, or fractures of the face and jaw, can lead to long-term physical disability, debilitation, discomfort as well as a range of functional problems that can prevent the person from chewing or eating properly. A new study finds that young bicyclists may be at a much higher risk of suffering these injuries.

The researchers found that most of these injuries occurred in auto accidents, with a higher proportion of these accidents involving bicycles. Males were much more likely to be admitted into the hospital with maxillofacial fractures, compared to females.

Besides, males admitted into the hospital for maxillofacial fractures were on an average much younger than females. A male who was admitted into the hospital with a maxillofacial fracture was likely to be between 21 and 40 years of age.

The study also found that most maxillofacial injuries occurred during the spring months of April, May and June. That is not so surprising to Woodland Hills bicycle accident lawyers to understand, when you consider that spring time is when many people are out bicycling.

More than 36% of the patients who reported maxillofacial fractures also suffered from other injuries, most frequently orthopedic injuries. Persons who suffered from a bicycle accident and suffered a maxillofacial fracture were also likely to report neutotrauma.

Maxillofacial fractures can also result in long-term adverse health effects. For instance, very often these injuries result in aesthetic problems. A person who suffers from these injuries may also suffer from psychological and emotional distress, and require frequent visits to the hospital in order to deal with the consequences of the injury. In all these cases, a person may have to be off work for many days, losing income in the process.