Otorhinolarygological trauma among patients with head and neck injury admitted at Muhimbili national hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Introduction: The Ear, Throat and face region is the area in the body that is commonly involved in head and neck injury. Trauma to this region is often associated with mortality and morbidity and varying degree of physical and functional damage. In Muhimbili National Hospital more than 1200 patients with head and neck injury are admitted annually and ORL region is likely to be ignored. Fractures of the facial bones can result in complications, such as sinusitis, facial deformity, and injury to the eye. Conditions like chronic otitis media can lead into various intracranial complications and hearing loss. Aim: The study aimed at determining the prevalence Otorhinolaryngological trauma among patients with head and Neck injury admitted at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from May 2011 to February 2012. Materials and methods: This study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital in four departments: Oral surgery department, Emergence medicine Department, Neural surgery department and Otorhinolaryngology department, It was a prospective crosssectional descriptive hospital based study. 235 patients who were diagnosed of having head and neck injuries in the respective departments were recruited. Information on age, sex and cause of injury was taken from the case notes .Each patient was then examined for the presence of ear, face and throat injuries, using the available bed side instruments. Data was analysed using the SPSS program. Results: Out of 235 patients, 121 (51.5%) were males and 114 (48.5%) were females, where, majority, 176 (74.9%) were of age group 21-40. Out of 235 patients,116(49.4%) had trauma in the ORL region whereby majority(56.8%) were in the age group 21-40 and males had higher proportion 70(57.9%) as compared to females 46(40.4%). Among patients who had trauma in the ORL region, majority had facial injuries 86 (74.1%) and occurred commonly on the age group 21-40 and majority were males 52(75.3%). Among patients who had trauma in the ORL region, majority involved in road traffic accidents 75 (64.7%) and most of them were in the age group 21-40 (65.1%) and majority were males 47 (67.1%). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of Otorhinolaryngological trauma among head and neck injured patients attended at Muhimbili National hospital Dar es Salaam was noted to be high. It was higher among 20-41 years and in males.