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Abdominal injuries in Nigerian children
O Adejuyigbe1, A O Aderounmu, K A Adelusola
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
|February 1, 1992
Summary
Pediatric abdominal injuries, primarily from road traffic accidents, are a significant concern in Nigeria. Early clinical intervention dramatically improves survival rates for these critically injured children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Abdominal injuries in children pose a significant challenge, particularly in developing countries.
- Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of pediatric trauma worldwide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology and outcomes of abdominal injuries in children treated at a Nigerian teaching hospital.
- To identify patterns of injury and evaluate the effectiveness of clinical interventions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 195 pediatric abdominal injury cases over a 10-year period (1980-1989).
- Analysis of injury mechanisms, affected organs, mortality, and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Road traffic accidents accounted for 83.6% of injuries.
- High mortality rate (77.9%) among patients who arrived deceased or died shortly after arrival.
- Spleen and liver were the most frequently injured organs, with a high incidence of multiple organ injuries in non-survivors.
- No deaths occurred among 43 children receiving clinical intervention; one case of postsplenectomy sepsis recovered.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric abdominal trauma, largely due to road traffic accidents, has a high mortality rate in this setting.
- Prompt clinical intervention is crucial for improving survival outcomes in pediatric abdominal injuries.
- Surgical interventions like splenorrhaphy and partial splenectomy showed positive results.