Management of motorcycle limb trauma in a teaching hospital in South-western Nigeria

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.



Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (1) 2008 pp. 53-56