Abstract

INCIDENCE OF HEAD INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH MOTOR CYCLE ACCIDENTS IN PORT HARCOURT

*Ajie P. C., Victor P. D., Gbaranor K. B., Okpara P. E. and Tamuno-Opubo A.

Abstract

A retrospective study of 517 patients with head injuries associated with motorcycle accidents. This study was carried out at Accident and Emergency (A and E) Department of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 2001-December 2005. Admission and discharge registers of the Accident and Emergency Department, Intensive care unit and male female orthopedic wards were used for the study. The age group commonly involved in motorcycle accident was 20-29 years of age with 39.5% (males 29.8% and females 9.7%), followed by 30- 39 and 10-19 years (males 14.3% and females 5.6%) during the period under review. A total of 331 out of 517 patients died which is 64%. The people more at risk were the pillon riders. They have the highest number of deaths, which is because the motorcyclist holds the machine handle with both hands which gives him stability.

Keywords: Pillon riders, Head injury, Age group.