Pattern and Seven day outcomes of Patients with Chest Injuries in Mulago National Referral Hospital: A Prospective Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: Chest injuries are common among cases presenting at A&E department and are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality seen in trauma cases. General objective: To determine the injury patterns and seven-day outcome of chest injury patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Methods: This was a hospital based prospective descriptive study involving chest injury patients admitted from February 10th 2019 to March 20th 2019 inclusive. Results: Seventy-five patients were recruited. The mean age was 32.01±12.41 years with a male to female ratio of 9:1. Majority of the patients (49.33%) were aged 26-40 years. Motor vehicle injuries were the commonest etiological factor. Soft tissue injuries were the commonest injuries identified (92%). Fractures were the most severely associated injuries with 28%. Fifty-seven patients (76%) were discharged in good condition while 11 (14.67%) were still admitted on the ward by the end of the study period. Complications including surgical emphysema, pneumonia and tube malpositioning were seen in three patients (4%) and occurred with a frequency (1.3%). There was only 1(1.33%) mortality registered.

Conclusion: Chest injuries in Mulago National Referral Hospital are mostly soft tissue in nature , occurring in the third and fourth decade of life with male predominance. Isolated heamothorax and pneumothorax are the commonest severe injuries but generally carry a minimum mortality in this setting consistent with findings are consistent with other studies that have a similar setting.