Abstract:
Objective: This study was carried out to determine the
incidence of bony injuries in trauma patients who had
plain radiographs done at the Central Regional Hospital
in Cape Coast.
Design: This is a retrospective study based on plain
radiographs taken by trauma patients who reported to
the Central Regional Hospital.
Method: The case notes of all patients with a discharge
diagnosis of Road Traffic Accident or trauma of all
aetiologies that presented to the hospital between
January 2005 and December 2011 were retrieved, and
those patients that had skeletal radiographic
examinations were included in this study.
Results: The total number of cases seen was 1,133.
The ages of the patients ranged between 1 and 72
years. Sixty-nine (6.1%) of the patients were between 1
and 4 years old, with the majority between 20 and 49
years old, constituting 52.3%, with patients 60 years
and above at 9.2%. There was statistically significant
difference between male and female patients
(p=0.001). A total of 912 (80.5%) patients had
radiographic examination done out of which only 324
(35.5%) radiographs could be retrieved. There were
106 (32.7%) radiographs with various bony injuries
which was statistically significant (p=0.001). Rib
fractures represented 19/106 (17.9%) of which 62.5%
had multiple rib fractures. Fifty-eight (54.7%) had long
bone fractures. Other anatomical sites included the
pelvis and the skull.
Conclusion: Trauma is a major public health problem
in the country, involving mainly the productive age
group. Unnecessary exposure to X-rays is common.
Inadequate management of trauma patients negatively
impacts on the outcome of trauma patients. Trauma
prevention is the best way forward.
