Broken Bones in Faces: A Decade of Cases at a Military Hospital

Over the past decade, the Armed Forces Capital Hospital of Korea (AFCH) saw 178 cases of facial bone fractures. Most of these injuries happened to men, with just a few women involved. The average age was about 22 years. Injuries occurred mainly during sports, training, or everyday activities. Bumps were the most common cause, followed by slips, assaults, and falls. The most broken bones were in the nose, followed by the upper jaw, eye socket, lower jaw, and cheekbone.

On average, people waited about 6 days before going to the hospital. Out of those treated, 110 people needed surgery. The overall rate of complications was around 9%. Mandible fractures had the highest complication rate at about 23%, followed by nasal bone fractures at around 10%. Among the injured, 145 people were treated at AFCH, while 63 chose to get help at civilian hospitals for various reasons. The average follow-up time was about 202 days. The option for injured soldiers to choose their medical facility might explain why some seek treatment outside the military system.

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