Sociodemographic profile and pattern of sinonasal injuries at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, south-west Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Sinonasal trauma is a common otorhinolaryngology disorder worldwide. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, sociodemographic features, aetiology, clinical presentation, management and outcome of injuries to the nose and paranasal sinuses.

Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of patients with sinonasal injuries that presented at our tertiary health institution. Consented patients were studied between October 2015 and September 2017. Analysis of obtained data was done with SPSS version 16.0.

Results: There were 67.1% males and 32.9% females with male to female ratio of 2:1. Foreign body was the commonest cause of injury in 35.4% followed by road traffic accidents in 24.4%. Commonest anatomical region of sinonasal injury were nasal cavity and nasal vestibule in 57.3% and 19.5%. Common clinical features among the patients were pain in 72.0%, bleeding in 53.6% and foreign bodies impaction in 35.4%. Acute sinonasal injury in 95.1% was commoner than chronic sinonasal injury (≥13 weeks) in 4.9%. Commonest associated complications of the sinonasal injuries were rhinosinusitis in 37.8% others were 22.0% epistaxis, 11.0% nasal septal abscess and 3.7% adhesion. Pre-hospital treatment in the patients was 62.2%. Major treatments offered to the patients were conservative/medical therapy in 53.7%. Commonest surgical interventions were 35.4% foreign body removal and 7.3% epistaxis control.

Conclusion: Sinonasal injuries are common in the otorhinolaryngology practice. Commonest causes are self-inflicting foreign bodies impaction and road traffic accident. Pre-hospital treatment in the patients was very high. The prevalence of sinonasal injury was 2.7%.

Keywords: Otorhinolaryngology, Nose, Paranasal sinuses, Facial, Injuries