A review of traumatic limb injuries in children and implication for prevention

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are important aspects of traumatic injuries that need to be characterized better in other to map out appropriate preventive measures in developing countries.
Method: This is a retrospective study of all traumatic injuries to the limbs presented at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex over a five-year period Results: 570 of 643 (5.6% of all pediatric trauma cases) case notes were retrieved. There were 366 (64.2%) males and 204(35.8%) females with a mean age of 6.7 ± 3.8 years. Most injuries were sustained at home or on the way to or from school. Road crashes and falls are the two most common causes responsible for 50.5% and 41.4% respectively. Lower limb injuries were 4.8 times more common than upper limb injuries and fractures were the most common injury type. The femurs were injured in more than 50% of the cases. The tibia had the highest number of open fractures. 178 (31.2%) patients sustained skin injuries, the majority of which were lacerations (79, 43.8%) and abrasions (30, 16.9%). There were 23 (4.0%) nerve and 13 (2.5%) tendon injuries. Associated other region injuries were to the head and the abdomen. The mortality rate was 1.8%, all deaths occurred in those with crash-related injuries.
Conclusion: Musculoskeletal injuries remain a significant cause of hospitalization and morbidity in Nigeria. Preventive measures aimed at road crashes and falls should be instituted to reduce their incidence.
Keywords: Peadiatric, Limb, Injury, Trauma
Prevention