Profile of extremity injuries caused by Motorcycle accidents seen at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The increasing use of commercial motorcycle as a mode of transportation in urban cities like Lagos has become an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Injuries of the extremity, especially the lower extremity being the most common nonfatal injury with head injury as the
common cause of mortality. This has led to several states in the country restricting or banning commercial motorcycle operation. The aim of this study was to determine the trend of motorcycle extremity injuries post restriction of commercial motorcycles in Lagos as seen in LUTH.
Materials and Methods: This was a 2-year prospective hospital based study of all patients that presented at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) with motorcycle extremity injury that met the inclusion criteria. It evaluated the pattern of motorcycle extremity injury, determining associated injuries in patients with motorcycle - related extremity injuries and determining the impact of legislation against commercial motorcyclist in Lagos in terms of severity and type of injuries. Also outcome in terms of mortality, duration of hospital stay were assessed.
Results: Out of 2670 patients admitted at the accident and emergency during the period of this study, 570 (21.3%) were road traffic accident victims. Of the victims of RTA, 282 (49.5%) patients sustained motorcycle accident. The male: female (M: F) ratio was 2.8:1. The age ranged from less than 1 year to 75 years with a peak at 30-39years. The total number of extremity injuries was 322. Abrasions were the commonest type of injury accounting for 180(55.9%) of all extremity injuries followed by extremity fractures 110(34.2%). 80 patients had isolated extremity injuries and 202 patients had associated injuries. Head injury 190 (94.1%) was the most frequently associated injury followed closely by blunt chest injury 6(3.0%). None of the patients wore protective helmet. 48 mortalities (17.02%) were recorded and all dead patients had head injury.
Conclusions: Motorcycle extremity injuries still represent a common cause of morbidity despite its restriction in Lagos. Therefore, strict  enforcement of the law especially those closely associated with subject safety is advocated so as to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with motorcycle accidents .. restriction in Lagos. Therefore strict enforcement of the law especially those closely associated with subject safety is  advocated so as to reduce morbidity associated with motorcycle accident.

Keywords: Motorcycle, Fractures, Head Injury, Extremity injury.