Otorhinolaryngological Trauma in Some Private Health Facilities in Benin City

Background: Otorhinolaryngological trauma is common in clinical practice. The disaster caused by otorhinolaryngological trauma arises from its morbidity and mortality. This is due to increased cost of care and varying degree of physical, cosmetic and functional disfigurements.

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the causes, mechanisms of trauma and outcomes of these injuries in private setting; and to profer possible preventive measures.

Methods: This study was a one-year descriptive prospective study on patients with otorhinolaryngological trauma managed at three private health settings in Benin City, Nigeria. All consecutive trauma patients seen from May 2016 to April 2017 constituted the sample size. Total population sampling technique was used. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: A total of 31 patients were studied. Age ranged from 1 to 80 years. Median age was 35 years. Male to female ratio was 1.1:1. The commonest cause of trauma was use of cotton buds to clean the ears in 48.4% patients. This was followed by foreign bodies in the ear in 12.9% of the patients. This was not statistically significant as p>0.05. The commonest mechanism of trauma was from Tympanic membrane perforation, canal laceration and ear canal inflammation in 48.4% of patients. The ear was the most affected region in 80.6% of the patients. The greatest complain at presentation was ear discharge in 38.7% of the patients, followed by hearing loss in 35.5% patients. The commonest complication was tympanic membrane perforation noted in 48.4% of the study population followed by chronic suppurative otitis media in 35.5% of them. Majority of the subjects (87.1%) were treated as outpatients. Only 12.9% of the subjects required admission to the ward. The most common treatment modalities used were ‘keeping the ear dry’ protocol, ear toileting and daily ear dressing in 80.6%, 41.9% and 38.7% of the patients respectively. The median length of hospital stay for in-patients was 7 days (range 3 to 11 days). There was no mortality. Majority of the patients (77.4%) had full recovery. Tympanic membrane perforation was persistent in 22.6% of the patients.

Conclusion: Otorhinolaryngological trauma constitutes a significant cause of morbidity in private hospital setting. Majority of these trauma are both preventable and treatable through public enlightenment programmes and early presentation to Otorhinolaryngologists respectively.