title: Penetrating abdominal injuries in adults seen at two teaching hospitals in ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of penetrating abdominal injuries (PAI) has increased in the West African sub-region.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pattern and management outcome of penetrating abdominal injuries (PAI) in the two main teaching hospitals in Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective and retrospective descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant details of all adult patients admitted with penetrating abdominal injuries over a 11-year period were recorded at KATH and KBTH in Accra. The study in KATH was prospective pro forma based and that in the KBTH was a retrospective case review of all penetrating abdominal injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 411 patients, mostly men (M: F-8:1). The peak age of patients was 20-29 years, 164 patients (39.9%). Abdominal stab wound injuries accounted for 251 (61.1%). Three hundred and thirty - one patients (80.5%) had an emergency laparotomy. Twelve patients required 16 emergency thoracotomies. The small bowel (23.2%), stomach (12.9%), colon (10.2%), the liver (10.0%), were the most commonly injured organs. In 92 patients (29.0%) no significant intra-abdominal injury was detected at laparotomy
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stab wounds are the main penetrating abdominal injuries seen mostly among young male adults in Ghana. Management was by a mandatory laparotomy after clinical assessment. The overall mortality was 4.4%. Selective non-operative management of abdominal stab wounds is possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana and Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohene-Yeboah
authors.forename: J C B
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dakubo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boakye
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Naeeder