소아의 구강 내 외상에 대한 임상적 고찰

Background and Objectives: Accidental intraoral trauma is a common problem in the pediatric populations. Although they have few complications relatively, slight injuries with minor soft-tissue trauma would be associated with severe complications depending on their sites. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 137 children who visited to the otorhinolaryngology department of Masan Samsung Hospital, from March, 1994 to February, 1999 and who were diagnosed as having intraoral trauma. The patients were analyzed into the injury site, distribution of sex, age, arrival time after injury, and the causing implements. Results: The sex ratio of male to female was 2.3 : 1. The most common site of injury was midsoft palate area (37.2%). The age of patient was varied from 3 months to 15 years old, with the average of 4.3 years old (majorities were below 6 years old). The arrival time after injury was not beyond 3 hours mostly. Causing materials were plastic playthings (41 cases), wooden or metal sticks (26 cases), and chopsticks (10 cases) etc. Otherwise, there were tongue lacerations (19 cases) that resulted from a slip. None of the patients experienced severe complication, such as internal carotid artery thrombosis. Conclusion: Intraoral injuries in the pediatric population have few complications, but they require increased concern about potential neurovascular impairment. Care should be taken during the examination to identify any neurological problems that may not relate to the degree of injury. Conservative management can be entertained if no abnormal neurologic findings are noted. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2000;11:98–103)