The pattern and aetiology of maxillofacial injuries in Greece. A retrospective study of 25 years and a comparison with other countries.

In comparison with other countries, Greece demonstrates a high incidence of road traffic accidents (RTA's). Most are the result of violation of the highway code. Violence as a causative agent of fractures of the facial skeleton is still a minor factor in comparison with other countries. Most of the people involved are young. In a 25-year period we have treated 6,847 fractures of the facial skeleton. Fractures of the mandibular condyle, the genial symphysis and the zygomatico-maxillary complex were the most numerous. 25% of the patients were women and 75% men. 56% were treated conservatively; an open reduction was the treatment of choice in 37%, while no treatment was considered necessary in 7%. In the period under study, K.A.T. Hospital admitted 60% of the maxillofacial trauma in the whole country.