Background:Trauma leads to considerable morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to elucidate the pattern and characteristics of trauma at Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, Nigeria.Materials and Methods:Case records of all patients who presented to the Accident and Emergency (A and E) Department with trauma between January and December 2013 were analyzed for demographic data, types of injuries sustained, causes and circumstances of injuries, as well as outcome of treatment were extracted from the case files and entered onto a computerized questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows version 15.0 (SPSS Inc; Chicago, Illinois).Results:A total of 250 traumatized patients were studied consisting of 203 (81.2%) males and 47 (18.8%) females with a modal age group of 21–30 years. Unintentional injuries were the most predominant form of trauma (n = 209, 83.6%) with road traffic accidents being the leading cause (n = 180, 72.0%). Open wounds (n = 95, 28.2%) were the most common form of injury sustained and the extremities (n = 148, 43.5%), the most frequently injured body region. Most patients (n = 133, 53.2%) were treated and discharged home without permanent disabilities, while death occurred in 15.2%.Conclusion:Trauma in Makurdi is a predominantly young adult male occurrence with road traffic accidents being the leading etiological factor. Reducing road traffic accidents will likely reduce mortality and morbidity due to trauma.

Background:Motorcycle-related injuries lead to considerable morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern and outcome of motorcycle-related injuries at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria.Patients and Methods:Case records of all patients who presented to the accident and emergency department with motorcycle-related injuries between July 2012 and June 2013 were analysed for age, gender, injury host status (i.e. rider, pillion or pedestrian), nature of collision (motorcycle versus other vehicles, motorcycle versus motorcycle, motorcycle versus pedestrian or lone riders), body region injured, injury severity score (ISS) at arrival, length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality.Results:Seventy - nine patients with motorcycle-related injuries were included in the study. They consisted of 63 males (61.8%) and 16 females (15.7%). The age range was 5-65 years with a mean of 32.4 ± 14.0. Motorcycle versus vehicle collisions were the most common mechanism of injury (n = 46, 58.2%). Musculoskeletal injuries constituted the most common injuries sustained (n = 50, 47.6%) and the tibia was the most frequently fractured bone (n = 14, 35.9%). The majority of patients (57.0%) sustained mild/moderate injuries (ISS ≤ 15). There was no statistically significant difference between the sexes for sustaining mild/moderate injuries or severe/profound injuries (P > 0.05). Mortality rate was 6.3% with head injuries being involved in all cases.Conclusion:Young males were mostly injured in motorcycle-related trauma. Musculoskeletal injuries were the most common injuries sustained and head injuries were involved in all the deaths. Enforcement of motorcycle crash bars and helmet usage is recommended.

Fractures constitute a significant component of paediatric trauma. Paediatric fractures account for significant morbidity. This study was set to elucidate the characteristics and outcome of paediatric fractures in a university teaching hospital. Case notes were reviewed for socio-demographic and clinical variables. Statistical analysis was carried out using the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows, Version 21.0. The correlation between development of complications and prior treatment by traditional bone setters was determined using chi-squared tests. Fifty four long bone fractures were studied in 52 children. Their ages ranged from 1 day to 16 years with a mean of 8.85 ± 3.86 years. There were 29 males (55.8%) and 23 females (44.2%). The aetiology of childhood fractures included road traffic crashes (n=30, 57.7%), falls (n=10, 19.3%), sports injuries (n=8, 15.4). The long bones fractured were tibia (n=19, 35.2%), femur (n=14, 25.9%), distal radius (n=14, 25.9%) and supracondylar part of the humerus (n=7, 13.0%). Non-operative treatment modalities were the most frequent means employed in treating children with fractures in this study. Limb gangrene following prior treatment by traditional bone setters was the most common complication. There was a statistically significant correlation between development of complications and prior traditional bone setters treatment (p<0.001). Paediatric fractures were more common in boys, caused mostly by road traffic crashes. Most were patients discharged without deformities. Public enlightenment on trauma prevention, enforcement of school bus transport system and reducing street hawking by expanding school feeding programmes may help reduce incidence of paediatric fractures.

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