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Maxillofacial injuries caused by terrorist bomb attack in Nairobi, Kenya
W A Odhiambo1, S W Guthua, F G Macigo
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Wodhis@healthnet.or.ke
International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
|October 4, 2002
Summary
Bomb blast survivors in Kenya frequently sustain maxillofacial injuries, with soft-tissue damage being most common. Maxillofacial surgeons are crucial for managing these disaster-related injuries.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Maxillofacial Surgery
- Disaster Medicine
Background:
- Limited data exists on bomb-blast injuries in Africa, particularly Kenya.
- Military conflicts are prevalent on the African continent.
- The August 1998 bomb blast in Nairobi highlighted a need for injury pattern analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the pattern of maxillofacial injuries from the 1998 Nairobi bomb blast.
- To identify the types and prevalence of injuries sustained by survivors.
- To emphasize the role of maxillofacial surgeons in disaster response.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study.
- Analysis of hospital records from Kenyatta National Referral and Teaching Hospital.
- Data collected from 290 bomb-blast survivors.
Main Results:
- 78% of survivors had at least one maxillofacial injury.
- Soft-tissue injuries (61.3%) were the most frequent.
- Severe eye injuries (27.6%) and cranio-facial fractures (1.4%) were also documented.
Conclusions:
- Maxillofacial injuries are a significant consequence of bomb blasts.
- A multidisciplinary approach is essential for managing bomb-blast and disaster injuries.
- Maxillofacial surgeons should be integral members of disaster management teams.