Management of motorcycle limb trauma in a teaching hospital in south-western Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the management of limb injuries sustained from motorcycle accidents.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Management of motorcycle injuries is still difficult in developing countries. Attention needs to be paid to provision of organized trauma care to improve outcomes.
Oluwadiya
K
K
Department of Surgery, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
Olasinde
A A
AA
Odu
O O
OO
Olakulehin
O A
OA
Olatoke
S A
SA
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery