Outcome of Extremity Gunshot Injuries at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Gunshot injuries remain a common reason for prolonged hospital stay.
Objective: High morbidity due mainly to infections of soft tissue and bone.
Methods: This is a three year prospective morbidity and mortality
study of cases of extremity gunshot injuries that presented at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) between 1st January
2000 and 31st December 2002. LUTH is the largest tertiary hospital in Lagos State. This study aims to ascess morbidity and mortality due to increasing complications associated with civilian gunshot injuries.
R esults: Two hundred and forty patients with extremity gunshot injuries were studied excluding those brought in dead (BID). Most (95%) of the patients were males. Age group 21 – 40 years accounted for most cases (52.5%) of the victims of gunshot injury.
The commonest complication was wound infection (20%). Chronic osteomyelitis occurred in 11.9% of those with fractures. Conclusion: The commonest complications were related to infections which resulted in considerable morbidity, Mortality was 5% and related to associated abdminal injuries.

Keywords: Gunshoot injuries, Extremity, Lagos, Nigeria.

Nigerian Medical Journal Vol. 48 (1) 2007: pp. 14-16