Motorcycle Related Oral and Maxillofacial Injuries Seen at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi-Ghana

Abstract

Background: Motorcycle related injuries have become a major public health problem because the increased use of motorcycles has been accompanied with a corresponding increase of road traffic accidents. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of oral and maxillofacial injuries associated with motorcycles as seen at the second largest Teaching Hospital in Ghana, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Method and Materials: The compiled data that were reviewed for this retrospective study were obtained from the Accident and Emergency unit of KATH. These comprised 135 successive maxillofacial trauma patient records entered from August 2017 to August 2018. Results: Total number of road traffic related injuries seen at OMFS was 135 during the study period. Out of this number, 66 were related to motorcycle injuries. This represented 48.7% of the Road Traffic Accidents seen at oral and maxillofacial surgery department (OMFS). The age range was from 3 to 64 years. The average age was 26.7 years. 62 (93.9%) were males and 4 (6.1%) were females. 16 (24.2%) of the motorcycle injuries were caused by the "Okada", 2 (3.0%) by "Pragia" and 48 (72.8%) by the "Aboboyaa". 46 (69.7%) of the motorcycles victims were themselves the riders, 12 (18.2%) were pedestrians and 8 (12.1%) were passengers. There were 8 deaths. 6 (75.0%) of the deaths were caused by the "Aboboyaa". "Okada" accounted for only 2 (15.0%) deaths. Concerning the riders and the passengers, only 8 (14.8%) of the victims were helmeted. The majority were unhelmeted (85.2%). Conclusion: Motorcycle transportation is the cause of many oral and maxillofacial injuries. Majority of the victims suffered multiple facial bone fractures. Males were more often affected than females and the majority were unhelmeted.

Etiology, Prevalence, and Management of Oral and Maxillofacial Soft Tissue Injuries in Children at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi-Ghana

“…This observation may be as a result of the illegal use of motorcycles for commercial purposes and the motorcycles are usually ridden by school drop-out who have little or no regard for road traffic regulations [25] Purely soft tissue injuries were seen in 38 (28.4%) of patients, other soft tissue injuries were in combination with either a dental injury, bony fracture, or other associated injuries. The majority of the soft tissue injuries were extra-oral 137 (90.7%) with the lips 30 (19.8%) being the most frequent site followed by the forehead 28 (18.5%).…”

Epidemiology Of Motorcycle-Related Maxillofacial Injuries Presenting To The 37 Military Hospital, Ghana

“…This finding agrees with global and local figures. 5,12,13 The presence of a lot of young male riders should be of concern since they are reportedly more likely to engage in risky behaviours like not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle. 14 Over half (60%) of the victims of motorcycle crashes reported being employed in the informal sector with 45% having secondary school education while 3% had no formal education.…”

“…Motorcycle transportation has been identified as the cause of most oral and maxillofacial injuries with the majority of the victims suffering multiple facial bone fractures. 5 Motorcycle taxis, also known as "Okada" or "boda boda" in parts of Africa, have become an integral part of the transport sector in several cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reasons cited for their continued use include economic gains, fast means of transport, the ability to travel on poor roads, and fun to ride, among others.…”