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Introduction Injury is the first cause of death worldwide in the population aged 1 to 44. In developed countries, the most common trauma-related injuries resulting in death during childhood are traffic accidents, followed by drowning. Methods This retrospective study based on autopsy examinations describes the epidemiology profile of deaths by trauma-related causes in individuals younger than 18 years from 2001 to 2008 in the city of Campinas. The aim is to identify epidemiology changes throughout the years in order to develop strategies of prevention. Results There were 2,170 deaths from all causes in children < 18 years old, 530 of which were due to trauma-related causes, with a male predominance of 3.4:1. The age distribution revealed that 76% of deaths occurred in the 10-17 age group. The most predominant trauma cause was firearm injury (47%). Other frequent causes were transport-related injuries (138 cases-26%; pedestrians were struck in 57.2% of these cases) and drowning (55 cases-10.4%). Asphyxia/suffocation was the cause of death in 72% of cases in children < 1 year old; drowning (30.8%) was predominant in the 1-4 age group; transport-related deaths were frequent in the 5-9 age group (56%) and the 10-14 age group (40.4%). Gun-related deaths were predominant (68%) in the 14-17 age group. 51% of deaths occurred at the scene. Conclusions There was a predominance of deaths in children and adolescents males, between 15-17 years old, mainly from gun-related homicides, and the frequency has decreased since 2004 after the disarmament statute and the combating of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: firearm wounds are relatively frequent and show high incidence at the head and face area. Temporomandibular joint may be involved, and also some important anatomic structures as the facial nerve directing the need for an interdisciplinary team in order to promote an efficient treatment. Procedures: a case report related to a comminuted condyle fracture caused by firearms with a nonsurgical treatment associated to myofunctional therapy. The patient was referred to Speech and Language Pathologist after the conduct of oral and maxillofacial surgery team, without removing the bullet, lodged superficially near the origin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the right side; with comminuted condyle fracture and facial nerve damage. Myofunctional evaluation found an important reduction in the mandibular movement amplitude with severe deviations as for the affected side, no contralateral laterality, muscle pain; paralysis and paresthesia on the right side of the face. Myofunctional therapy followed a specific protocol for facial trauma including: drainage of edemas, specific ipsilateral manipulations on jaw muscles; correction and enlargement of the mandibular movements, specific procedures related to facial paralysis and directed functional reorganization. Results: after eight therapy sessions we obtained: mandibular movements with adequate amplitude and symmetry, chewing reorganization, adequacy of swallowing and speech, remission of painful symptoms and remission of paralysis in the medium third of the face. Conclusion: the conservative treatment for comminuted condyle fracture through myofunctional therapy resulted in functional rehabilitation of the jaw and face, directing the movements and stimulating the adequacy of the sthomatognatic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]