Pattern of Ear, Nose and Throat Injuries in Children at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria

Background: Trauma to the ear, nose and throat region is relatively common in children. There is a dearth of literature on this subject in our environment. This study determined the patterns and mechanisms of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) related injuries in children in Osogbo, Nigeria. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of children with ENT trauma/injuries managed in the Ear-Nose Throat department at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, between January 2001and December 2005. Results: Seventy-five (5.3%) children with traumatic ENT injuries were seen but complete records were available in 47 patients. Twenty nine of the 47 patients were males and 18 were females (M:F=1.6:1). Majority (59.6%) of the patients were in the age group of 0-5years. The duration of symptoms before presentation varied between the various regions, and was least in the throat region, averaging 2.7days. The most common cause of injury seen in all the regions was foreign body (60.71%), majority of which occurred in the ears (60.71%). Conclusion: ENT injuries are relatively common in our children, and foreign bodies are the commonest causes.