Resumo

PIMENTA, Rodolfo Macedo Cruz et al. Survey of oral and maxillofacial injuries in victims of violence who were subjected to forensic dental expertise at Feira de Santana's Forensic Medicine Institute, Bahia, between 2007 and 2009. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2013, vol.49, n.4, pp. 154-161. ISSN 1516-0939.

ABSTRACT Aim: To analyze the profile of victims and perpetrators according to sociodemographic variables and orofacial clinical manifestations in the city of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil between 2007 and 2009. Materials and Methods: The present work was a descriptive epidemiological study using secondary data collected from the Feira de Santana Forensic Institute between 2007 and 2009. This study consulted the socio-demographic characteristics of the victim, the victim's relationship with the assailant, the characterization of the instrument, description of the injuries as regards their type and location, and the evaluation of the injury. After having tabulated the data, statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program, version 15.0. Results: Most of the victims were male, single, with light-black skin, and between 18 and 35 years of age. Regarding the type of injury, the most common were edemas (14.8%), tooth fractures (14.8%), and tooth dislocation (11.2%). The most affected intra-oral structures were the teeth and labial mucosa, 54.6% and 30.9%, respectively. Through extra-oral examinations, the buccal (39%) and malar (10.3%) regions proved to be the most affected areas. In the majority of cases, the use of a blunt instrument was the most common cause of injury. Conclusion: The majority of victims were male, single, students, with light-black skin, and between 18 and 35 years of age. In most medical reports, no information was recorded about the assailant. A blunt instrument was most commonly used in the attack. Edemas and tooth fractures were the main types of injuries resulting from the violence. These results from this study indicate the need to implement violence prevention programs in the areas of health and public safety.

Palavras-chave : Forensic Dentistry.; Violence.; Epidemiology..