Pattern of Oral and Maxillofacial Injuries Seen During An Insurgency In A Developing Country

Abstract

Objective: Insurgents use terrorism as a tactic to push government to accede their demands Reports on the injuries inflicted by Boko Haram insurgency are not many. One from Maiduguri found out that over 90% of those affected are male. The objective of this study was to analyze the pattern of oral and maxillofacial injuries encountered during the BH insurgency in the Nigerian North Western states of Kano and Kaduna

Methods: A retrospective study covering patients brought from terrorist and other attacks by BH in the North Western Nigerian States of Kaduna and Kano seen at 3 tertiary care centres from 2010 to 2015 was conducted.

Results: A total of 56 cases were seen in study and the ratio of 17.7:1. The mean age in years and standard deviation (SD) were 31.3 (9.70) years. The third decade was where most of the victims (37.5%) were found. Over 90% of the victims were brought to the accident and emergency center within 1-3 hours of sustaining injuries.

Conclusion: The management of victims of insurgency in the Northwest Nigeria has been a challenge in the sense for lack of facilities and manpower.

Key words: Insurgency, Pattern, Maxillofacial, Injury, blast