Socio-demographic profiles and outcome of motorcycle related head injury in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution

Abstract

Background: Motorcycle increasingly has been used for commercial transportation in many Nigerian cities with attendance increase in the rate of motorcycle crashes. Head injury is responsible for high morbidity and most mortality following such crashes. The aim of this study is to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of head injured victims of motorcycle crashes, severity of head injury and management outcome. Materials and Methods: A 1 year prospective study of head injured motorcyclists and pedestrians knocked down by motorcycle were carried out at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital using a pre-designed proforma. Information collected included the age, gender, literacy level, alcohol consumption, license status, crash helmet use, Glasgow coma score and Glasgow outcome score. The IBM statistical package for social sciences (version 15.0) statistical package was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of140 patients with the median age of 30 years (ranged 3-90 years) were studied. They comprised 115 (82%) males and 25 (18%) females. Most patients (66%) had at least secondary education. People of varying occupations were involved in a motorcycle crash. All riders were males and most (71.8%) were unlicensed. Only 5.8% of riders wore crash helmets at the time of the crash and they all had a favorable outcome. At both extremes of age ( 70 years) more patients were involved as pedestrians. The only socio-demographic variable that influence outcome of head injury was the patient age. Outcome was better in younger age group ( P = 0.004). There was 26.4% mortality. Most, 23 (88.4%), of patients with severe head injury died and none of them had good recovery ( P Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated high mortality among non-crash helmet wearing motorcyclists with motor cycle related head injury. The outcome was significantly influenced by age and head injury severity.