A Retrospective Study on Patients with ENT Injuries Following Road Traffic Accidents at a Tertiary Care Medical Institution in Sri Lanka
Navodya C. Selvaratnam, Dr. Sinnadurai Selvaratnam, A.M.N.A.D. Janani Sandunika Nanayakkara, Prof. Dr. Samath D. Dharmaratne, Dr. W. M. C. Narampanawa
Abstract
Road traffic accidents (RTAs) and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) injuries are common causative factors of morbidity and mortality among children and adult populations. In developing countries, RTAs are the leading cause of ENT injuries and have a profound impact on the health and well-being of individuals. In Sri Lanka, there is a dearth of published research specifically on ENT injuries due to RTAs. This study was conducted to identify ENT injuries due to RTAs, their prevalence according to age and gender, and the clinical presentation among the patients managed in the National Hospital Kandy (NHK), Sri Lanka. All individuals with ENT injuries following an RTA admitted to the ENT Unit of NHK from January 2016 to March 2019 were included in the study. Patient data were collected from the Bed-Head-Tickets (BHTs) and analyzed. Among the 62 patients studied, 49 were male, while 13 were female. The majority (58%) of patients were among the 21–40- year age group. The nose was observed as the most common localized injury site (58%), followed by the ear (6%), while none had injuries to the throat. Epistaxis was the most commonly observed clinical presentation (69%). The majority of admissions occurred during '18:00-24:00' hours. Nine individuals were under the influence of alcohol. In the future, prospective studies in this area would help further understand ENT injuries due to RTAs.
Keywords: Road traffic accidents (RTAs), Ear, nose, and throat (ENT), Injuries
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