Epidemiology and management of Lefort fractures at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital of Lomé (Togo)

• Published in: Advances in oral and maxillofacial surgery 2022-10, Vol.8, p.100376, Article 100376
• Main Authors: Michel Fabien, Dargani, Haréfétéguéna, Bissa, Mathieu, Millogo, Motandi, Idani, Bertrand, Essobiyou Tamassi, Tarcissus, Konsem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Lefort fracture; Maxillofacial trauma; Treatment
• ISSN: 2667-1476; 2667-1476
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adoms.2022.100376

Lefort fractures are lesions of the facial mass following violent trauma. They can be life-threatening and functionally dangerous in the short or long term. This study aimed to report the management of this type of fracture in our context. yThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, in the Department of Otolaryngology and Cervico-Maxillofacial Surgery at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital of Lomé. The annual frequency was 15.2 cases. The average age of the patients was 34.43 ± 11.98 years with extremes of 15 and 70 years and a sex ratio of 9.13. The majority of patients were workers in the informal sector (44.08%). The etiologies were dominated by road traffic accidents (91.45%) and 28.29% of the patients were emergency cases on admission. Imaging showed 51.06% Lefort II fractures. Treatment was surgical in 99.34%, with screw plates (89.40%). Functional sequelae were reported in 5.92% of patients. Lefort fractures are common in young adult males after road traffic accidents. Their treatment is delicate and often leaves serious after-effects. Active measures for the prevention of these road traffic accidents are therefore necessary. •Lefort fractures are horizontal craniofacial disjunctions separating the face from the base of the skull at different heights.•They are diagnosed with certainty by CT scan and are managed surgically.•Inadequate treatment or its absence is a source of complications or serious sequelae.•This work aims to review the management of this type of lesion in the context of insufficient technical resources and delayed treatment.