Maxillofacial injuries and its implications on economic burden in trauma victims

Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the Economic burden on the patients with maxillofacial injuries. Materials and Method: After obtaining institutional ethical clearance, a prospective approach was taken to identify patients admitted with maxillofacial injuries from June 2017 to February 2018. Information related to the nature and severity of injury and treatment were recorded along with the total treatment cost and duration of hospitalization. Maxillofacial injury severity score (MFISS) and facial injury severity scale (FISS) were used to score the maxillofacial injury. To assess the economic burden, the MFISS and FISS scores were correlated with economic burden markers namely cost and duration of hospitalization. Results: A total of 129 patients with maxillofacial injuries were identified (115 males, 14 females; mean age = 35.14 years). 104 patients (80.62%) were involved in Road Traffic Accidents and only 58 patients (44.96%) were covered under medical insurance. The mean MFISS and FISS scores were 13.62 (standard deviation [SD] = 9.53; range = 3-48) and 2.70 (SD = 1.935; range = 1-10), respectively. The mean expenditure and length of stay in the hospital of the patients were INR 36643.42 (SD = 46165.817; range INR 1657-253948) and 5.5 days (SD = 6.741; range 0-34 days) respectively. Spearman’s correlation between the MFISS and FISS scores and the cost and duration of hospitalization, revealed statistically significant correlations (MFISS vs. cost-R = 0.398, P < 0.01; MFISS vs. duration-R = 0.477, P < 0.01; FISS vs. cost-R = 0.429, P < 0.01; FISS vs. duration-R = 0.433, P < 0.01).