The Conundrum of Polytrauma on the Jos Plateau

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The leading cause of morbidity and mortality from the end of the first year of life to the forty fifth is trauma. This is true worldwide but especially so in our environment. In no other situation are the complexities of the management of trauma more manifest than in the context of  polytrauma. For this we undertake to study the problem of polytrauma in
Jos.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency and pattern of occurrence of poly trauma in Jos university teaching hospital.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients presenting with polytrauma to the casualty department were prospectively studied. Data regarding demographics and a detailed description of injuries were entered into a proforma and collated over a one-year period.
RESULTS: A total of 131 patients were studied. There were 103 males and 28 females giving a male to female ratio of 3.7:1. The ages ranged from 2 to 61 years with a mean of 28.4 „b12.4 years. Road traffic accident was the most common aetiology in 113 (86.3%) patients, while falls 7 (5.3%),  gunshots 5 (3.8%) and assaults 2 (1.6%) were observed. The most  frequently encountered injuries were head, extremity and chest in 71.8%, 68.5% and 29.2% respectively. The combinations most frequently  observed were head\extremity (43.5%), head\chest (17.6%) and   chest\extremity (10.7%) injuries. Complications were observed in 20.6% while death occurred in 7.6%.
CONCLUSION: Polytrauma occurs with sufficient frequency to warrant  serious attention. As majority follow RTA, there is a need to intensify  measures aimed at improving road safety. There is also a need to   establish pre-hospital care\ambulance services. It is suggested that  improved orthopaedic and neurosurgical care will lead to improved   polytrauma care and most importantly, the establishment of dedicated  trauma teams in tertiary institutions is proposed as a prelude to the establishment of regional trauma centers. WAJM 2012; 31(1): 52¡V57.

Keywords: Trauma, Polytrauma, Jos.