Complications and Associated Risk Factors of Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Facial Bone Injuries among Patients Managed at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Tanzania

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Asher

Background: Management of facial bone fractures spans conservative care and surgical fixation. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) can restore function quickly, but it is technically demanding and may carry a higher burden of postoperative complications. Objective: Assess complications and associated risk factors of ORIF for facial bone injuries in patients treated at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania. Methods: Prospective analytical, hospital-based study at Muhimbili National Hospital between April 2022 and March 2023, including all ORIF cases under general anesthesia. Results: 76 patients; panfacial fractures most frequent; 67.1% immediate and 21.1% late complications. Conclusion: Multiplicity of fractures significantly correlated with complication occurrence.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Pages6

Reading Time15 min

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Background

Study design

Results

Conclusion

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Original research Complications and Associated Risk Factors of Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Facial Bone Injuries among Patients Managed at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Tanzania Mohamed Mkawa1, Karpal S Sohal2, Farrid Shubi3, Grace P Lubamba4 Received on: 08 November 2025; Accepted on: 16 March 2026; Published on: 10 May 2026 AbstrAct Background: Management of facial bone fractures varies from conservative management to surgical management by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Though ORIF offers rapid restoration of function, it is more technically demanding and associated with a higher risk of surgical complications. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the complications and associated risk factors of ORIF of facial bone injuries among patients managed at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania. Study design: This was an analytical prospective hospital-based study carried out atthe Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) between April 2022 and March 2023. It included all patients managed by ORIF for facial bone fractures under general anesthesia. Results: A total of 76 patients were included in the study. Panfacial fractures were the most frequent indication for ORIF (n = 39, 51.3%), followed by mandibular fractures (n = 26, 34.2%), and midfacial bone fractures (n = 11, 14.5%). The immediate postoperative complications were noted in 51 (67.1%) patients. A total of 16 patients (21.1%) had late complications, which included malunion (n = 14, 87.5%) and nonunion (n = 2, 12.5%) . Patients with multiple facial bone injuries were about 7 times more likely to have complications compared to those with single-site fractures (AOR = 6.99, 95% CI 2.10–23.20, p = 0.001) . Conclusion: The immediate postoperative complications, particularly pain and facial edema, were the most common, while malunion and nonunion accounted for most late complications. The occurrence of complications was significantly associated with the multiplicity of fractures. Keywords: Complications, Facial bone injuries, Malunion, Open reduction and internal fixation, Pain. AbstrAct o Antecedentes: El manejo de lasfracturas de los huesos faciales varíadesdetratamientos conservadores hasta intervenciones quirúrgicas mediantereducción abierta y fijación interna (ORIF) . Aunque la ORIF permite una rápida restauración de la función, es más compleja desde el punto de vista técnico y se asocia con un mayor riesgo de complicaciones postoperatorias. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar las complicaciones y los factores de riesgo asociados a la ORIF en pacientes con fracturas de los huesos faciales en un hospital de referencia terciario en Tanzania. Diseñodelestudio: Se realizó un estudio analítico transversal, hospitalario, en el Hospital Nacional Muhimbili (MNH) entre abril de 2022 y marzode 2023. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes sometidos a ORIF para fracturas de los huesos faciales bajo anestesia general. Resultados: Se incluyó un total de 76 pacientes. Las fracturas panfaciales fueron la indicación másfrecuente para ORIF (n=39, 51,3%), seguidas defracturas mandibulares (n=26, 34,2%) y fracturas de los huesos de la región media de la cara (n=11, 14,5%) . Las complicaciones postoperatoriasinmediatas se observaron en 51 pacientes (67,1%) . Dieciséis pacientes (21,1%) presentaron complicaciones tardías, incluyendo mala unión (n=14, 87,5%) y no unión (n=2, 12,5%). Los pacientes con múltiplesfracturas facialestuvieron aproximadamente siete veces más probabilidades de desarrollar complicaciones en comparación con aquellos con fracturas en un solo sitio (AOR=6,99; IC 95%: 2,10–23,20; p=0,001) . Conclusión: Las complicaciones postoperatorias inmediatas, especialmente dolor y edema facial, fueron las másfrecuentes, mientras que la mala unióny la no unión representaron la mayoría de las complicaciones tardías. La aparición de complicaciones se asoció significativamente con la multiplicidad de lasfracturas, subrayando la importancia de un

FAQs

What was the main objective of this study?

To evaluate complications and associated risk factors of ORIF for facial bone injuries in patients managed at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania.

How was the study conducted?

It was an analytical prospective hospital-based study at Muhimbili National Hospital from April 2022 to March 2023, including all patients managed by ORIF for facial bone fractures under general anesthesia.

What complications were most common immediately and later?

Immediate postoperative complications were most common for pain and facial edema, while late complications were mainly malunion and nonunion.

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Asher