Citation

Oluwadiya K, Olasinde AA, Odu OO, Olakulehin OA, Olatoke SA. Niger. J. Med. 2008; 17(1): 53-56.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18390134

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the management of limb injuries sustained from motorcycle accidents. METHOD: Consecutive 115 patients managed for limb injuries secondary to motorcycle trauma over a one-year period were prospectively studied. RESULTS: There were 115 patients out of which seventy-six (66.1%) sustained injuries to the lower limbs, 25 (21.7% to the upper limbs, while 14 (12.2 %) injured both the upper and the lower limbs together. Seventy-nine (68.7%) patients had fractures of which 24 (30.4%) were open. There was no organized pre-hospital care, a high referral rate and long injury-treatment intervals. Treatment was by closed manipulation and splintage with casts (57.6%), tractions (30.4%), and external fixation (5.4%); 18 patients had elective ORIF. The complication rate for cases was 71.3% while 4 (3.5%) patients died. CONCLUSION: Management of motorcycle injuries is still difficult in developing countries. Attention needs to be paid to provision of organized trauma care to improve outcomes.

Language: en