Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of illicit cocaine and opioid drug-related facial trauma and determine whether the presence of cocaine or opioid drug use in facial trauma patients influenced the cause of injury, morbidity, or management.

Methods A retrospective observational cohort study was performed using records from a state-wide database of all patients who presented to a Victorian hospital with a facial fracture between 2004 and 2014. Data collected included demographics, concomitant opioid and cocaine use, mechanism of injury, facial injuries, and management. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test, Student's t tests, binary logistic regression analysis, and multivariable linear regression analysis. Results were considered statistically significant if P < .05.

Results A total of 54,613 patient presentations for facial trauma were analyzed with 363 patients in the cocaine and opioid-related group, and 54,250 patients in the nondrug-related group. Patients with illicit drug use were more likely to have facial fractures caused by interpersonal violence when compared with nondrug users (47.9% vs 23.5%, OR = 2.23, P < .001). Opioid and cocaine users had 0.3 more total fractures per presentation, which included more midface and skull fractures, and more facial lacerations (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in the need for surgical management between the two groups. Opioid and cocaine affected patients also on average had a longer hospital stay of 3.4 days and required 0.9 more allied health inputs during their admission when compared with nondrug users (P < .05). This effect was similarly reflected when controlling for confounding variables (P < .001).

Conclusions Concomitant cocaine or opioid use in facial trauma patients leads to more violence-related injuries with higher morbidity and healthcare costs.