Evaluation of Nasal Fractures and Forensic Medicine Approach

The evaluation of the subjects with nasal fracture and present the current forensic approach. Between the dates January 2009 to January 2010 subjects who were diagnosed and treated with nasal fracture were enrolled for the study. A retrospective chart review was preformed and demographic data as well as etiology, fracture type were recorded. During the study period 580 subjects were identified. The incidence of nasal fractures was 84, 9% (n:580/683) among all the maxillofacial fractures. The mean age was 28,4 years (range between 8 months to 84 years). Four hundred and seventy eight (n:479 -82, 6%) out of 580 subjects were male whereas remaining 101 (17,4%) were female. Most common etiology were interpersonal violence (n:216, 37,2%), falls (n:122, 21%) and traffic accidents (n:34, 5,9%). Forty one (n:41-7,l%) out of 580 fractures were open fractures whereas remaining 539 (%92,9) were closed fractures. Among the closed fractures 205 (35,3%) out of 539 fractures were displaced and the remaining 334 (57,6%) fractures were non displaced. Nasal fracture is a frequent situation among the maxillofacial fractures. Besides short term problems in long term it will cause structural changes within the nose. The etiologies mainly have forensic features that will be interpersonal violence and accidents. In this subjects needed a complete medical recording needed. Besides, physicians also need to know the current forensic approach.Key words: Nasal fracture, etiology, forensic medicine