Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Following Mandibular Fracture Repair

Purpose

This study sought to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical factors associated with increased postsurgery depressive symptoms among inner-city minority patients recovering from a mandibular fracture.

Patients and Methods

Surveys of African American and Hispanic adults receiving treatment at King/Drew Medical Center for a mandible fracture (n = 98) are used to identify factors associated with increased postsurgery depressive symptoms. Using correlation coefficients and t tests, bivariate relationships between patient characteristics and depressive symptoms at first follow-up were examined. Multiple regression analysis was used, predicting depressive symptoms at 1 month postadmission by entering covariates that were found to be significant at the bivariate level.

Results

Consistent with the etiology of maxillofacial trauma, the majority of study participants were male (88%), unmarried (92%), unemployed (57%), and experienced some type of interpersonal violence resulting in their broken jaw (77%). Patient characteristics significantly associated with depressive symptoms at first follow-up included age (r = 0.26, P = .011), symptoms of post-traumatic stress (r = 0.31, P = .003), prior dental problems (r = 0.24, P = .022), current pain (r = 0.38, P < 0.001), and oral health problems during healing (GOHAI) (r = 0.34, P = .001). Two of the 5 significant covariates (pain and GOHAI) remained significant at the multivariate level (adjusted R² = 0.33).

Conclusion

Findings from this study show that depressive symptoms increase immediately after oral surgery for jaw fracture. This increase is associated with pain and quality of life during recovery.