An autopsy review of abdominal injuries resulting from road traffic accidents: The Ile-Ife experience

Abstract

>Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a leading cause of blunt force trauma to the abdomen. They remain an important cause of death globally and especially in Nigeria.Aims: The aim was to review the autopsy findings of victims with abdominal injuries following RTAs.Subjects and Methods: The autopsy records and case notes of victims of RTAs fatalities who sustained abdominal injuries over a 10-year period were reviewed. This was carried out at a tertiary health institution in Sub-Saharan Africa.Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 15.0.Results: Seventy-six cases were reviewed. The male to female ratio was 4.1:1. The mean age of the victims was 34.2 years while the age range was from 4 to 85 years. The 30–40-year age group accounted for 34.2% of cases. About 53.9% of the victims died at the accident scene, whereas 34.2% died while on hospital admission. About 42.1%, 32.9%, and 21.1% of the victims were passengers, drivers, and pedestrians, respectively. The spleen was injured in 67.1% of cases while the liver and intestines were injured in 22.4% and 15.8% of cases, respectively. Death was due to the combined effects of multiple injuries in 67.1% of cases, whereas 26.3% of victims died as a result of severe hypovolemia.Conclusions: Abdominal injuries in RTAs fatalities are more common in males and the most productive young adult population. The spleen is the most frequently injured intra-abdominal organ. The majority of deaths in this group of patients are due to the combined effects of multiple injuries in various body structure. Rapid management of patients with abdominal injuries is essential and particular consideration must be placed on those injuries involving other body parts.

Keywords

• Abdomen
• accidents
• autopsy
• Ile-Ife
• injuries