C. K. P. Ofoegbu

Motorcycle Injuries in a Developing Country and the Vulnerability of Riders, Passengers, and Pedestrians

At a Nigerian university hospital, none of the motorcyclists who presented over a 12 month period had been wearing a helmet, and of the eight patients who died, seven had head injuries. Of the five collision types described, the rate of motorcycle-other vehicle collisions was highest at 40.6%, while the motorcycle-pedestrian rate was 23.4%. Measures to prevent these collisions might reduce overall crashes by 64%; in addition, helmet law should be enforced.

Childhood motorcycle-related injuries in a Nigerian city - prevalence, spectrum and strategies for control

The use of motorcycles is becoming increasingly popular in Nigeria because of poor public and private transportation systems. Motorcycle crashes account for a disproportionate share of the deaths and disabilities that result from road traffic accidents. We undertook a prospective descriptive study of all children aged 15 years or under with motorcycle-related injuries (MCRIs) who presented at the emergency room of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital over a period of 3 years. Children with ophthalmic injuries and those who died before reaching the hospital were excluded. Over the study period, 40 of a total of 440 patients admitted with MCRIs were children (9.0%). Twenty-seven children (67.5%) were injured as pedestrians, 11 (27.5%) as passengers and 2 (5%, young adolescents) as riders. One 3-year-old child was admitted to the intensive care unit with severe head injury and died. Prevention of MCRIs in children should be a priority in our setting. Public campaigns should clearly highlight the risk of injury to this age group, and poor safety practices with regard to children should be specifically targeted. With the motorcycle gaining popularity as a mode of transportation in our cities and communities, the importance of teaching our youth about correct safety behaviour such as helmet use, and parents on the danger of letting their children cross roads alone, cannot be over-emphasised.

A Case of Esophagopericardial Fistula as a Complication of Upper Gastro‑Intestinal Endoscopy

A case of suppurative pericarditis from an esophagopericardial fistula (EPF) following the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE). A 38-year-old schizophrenic male patient with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GORD) and previously dilated esophageal stricture was presented with acute retrosternal chest pain. The patient pulled out the endoscope during UGIE the previous day. A barium swallow (BS) post endoscopy was normal. The patient was initially hemodynamically stable and cardiac evaluation was normal. The patient subsequently developed features of cardiogenic shock. Echocardiography confirmed pericardial effusion and pericardial aspiration yielded pus. Surgical drainage with pericardial tube insertion was done. Pericardial biopsy revealed acute suppurative inflammation with food particles. The patient continued with antibiotics and pericardial drainage for 14 days and repeat BS and chest computerized tomography scan revealed no EPF. The patient was discharged 24 days after the presentation and remained well at follow-up. A rare, serious complication of UGIE which may be easily missed and is associated with a high mortality with delayed treatment.