EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF MALAR BONE FRACTURES IN SOUTH- WESTERN ROMANIA OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD

A. R. Boicea, A. Camen, L. T. Tumbar, R. Hainarosie, S. M. Pituru, C. A. Panea, C. Voiosu, A. Patru, F. Anghelina, L. Anghelina

Abstract: The treatment of zygomatic fractures is considered a complicated procedure due to the functional and aesthetic implications of such an intervention, as well as the potential legal implications of the main etiological agents involved. This study is a retrospective analysis of the main epidemiological and etiological factors involved in zygomatic fractures from patients admitted at the Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Craiova over a 10-year period. Additionally, we analyzed the data from an etiological point of view for possible legal implications.
Patients and Method. A study of 205 patients who were admitted for zygomatic fractures over a 10-year period was performed. Results: the majority of patients were male (81%), with the most common cause of admission being physical aggression (49%) with no differences in terms of etiology between men and women. The most affected age group was between 31-40 years, while the cause of admission differed between ages, with physical aggression being the most prevalent at a young age, 75%, while an accidental fall was the main cause at 70 years and above. From a legal point of view, a strong inverse correlation between age and possible legal implications was established, with 100% of cases between 11-20 year having an etiology with legal ramifications, while only 23% of cases of 81+ years being considered as potential legal infractions. As a conclusion, further legal and educational strides must be made to reduce the number of zygomatic fractures in the South- Western part of Romania.
Keywords: malar fracture, physical aggression, car accident, accidental fall, legal liability.