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White, Asian postmenopausal women have increased risk for facial fracture

Postmenopausal women sustaining facial injuries had an increased risk for facial fracture, with significance among white and Asian women, according to study results recently published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Researchers evaluated ED visits between 2012 to 2014 related to facial trauma by conducting a retrospective analysis of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance Survey (NEISS), part of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s database. Age groups, including younger adults (aged 18-59 years) vs. older adults (aged 60-89 years), sex and race, including white, black, Asian, and other/unspecified, were used to organize entries.

The researchers also measured incidence of facial fractures and mechanism of injury.

The NEISS entries included 33,825 adult facial trauma entries, which correlated to 1,401,196 ED visits for adults with facial injury, including 14.4% involving fracture.

Younger men (< 60 years) with facial injuries had a greater proportion of fractures compared with younger women (15.5% vs. 12.5%; difference of the mean [DOM], 3%; 95% CI, 2.8-3.1). However, among populations older than 60 years, women had an increased risk for fracture than men (15% vs. 14%; DOM, 1%; 95% CI, 0.8-1.2).

There was greater fracture risk among older women compared with women younger than 60 years (15% vs. 12.5%; P <.001), with the comparison being significant among white and Asian women. However, older black women had a significantly decreased risk for fracture compared with the rest of the older-aged population.

Whites and Asians had significantly greater rates of facial fracture injure compared with blacks, regardless of age.

Injuries sustained during recreational activities were a significant factor among younger cohorts, while injuries due to housing structural elements and falls were factors among older cohorts.

“There is an increase in the risk of facial fracture among postmenopausal women who sustain facial injuries, with those results significant among whites and Asians,” the researchers wrote. “In contrast, a decreased predilection was noted on comparison of older and younger black women. Overall, Asians and whites had significantly greater risks of sustaining a fracture with facial injuries. Mechanism of injuries also varied significantly by age, race and sex.”  – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.