MISSILE AND BLAST INJURIES IN NIGERIA - THE SOUTHEAST EXPERIENCE

Missile injuries occupy a large segment of injuries treated in Southeast Nigeria, accounting for a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality. However, blast injuries are uncommon in this region. This study became necessary as a result of the rising spate of violence in various parts of Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast and in the Niger Delta regions, as well as the ever-present fear of kidnappers, armed robbers and occasionally, trigger-happy security agents.

To determine the types of missile and blast injuries in Southeast region, the circumstances that led to them, the management of the patients, and the outcome.

This is a collaborative, retrospective multi-centre study. Setting: 1. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State. 2. Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Imo State 3. Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, Abia State. 4. Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State. 5. University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, all in the Southeast of Nigeria.

Patients who were treated for missile or blast injuries in the last five years in each of the collaborating institutions were studied to determine the pattern of such injuries, causes, management options and outcome.

Four thousand, two hundred and sixteen (4,216) patients were admitted with missile and blast injuries in the collaborating Institutions in a period of five years. Majority of the injuries (4,177{99.1%}) were from gunshots, mainly to the limbs. The 39 (0.9%) cases of blast injuries were from land mines, hand grenades, and the Biafran type of improvised explosive device, popularly known as "Ogbunigwe". Seven hundred and seventy-two (18.3%) of the patients signed against medical advice and went to traditional bone-setters. Of the remaining 3,444 patients, 3,432 (99.7%) had good outcome. However, there were a total of 12 (0.4%) deaths, four from fulminant sepsis; eight from unknown causes.

Missile injuries account for a significant proportion of injuries treated in the Southeast of Nigeria; only a few were blast injuries. The outcome of management of the affected patients was satisfactory.