Arrow injuries in North East Nigeria

Abstract

Arrow injuries are an extinct form of injury in most parts of the developed world but constitute 0.1% of emergency admissions in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital annually. This is a retrospective study of arrow injuries carried out over a ten-year period (1989-1999) in order to study the reasons for its continued incidence the presentation and the experiences in the management of these injuries. There were 73 cases of arrow injuries and were all males with a peak age incidence of 31-40 years of age. Majority were farmers, cattle herdsmen and traders from the northeast region of Nigeria and the neighbouring republic of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The various reasons for the injuries were armed robbery in 41%, communal clashes 20.5%, dispute between farmers and cattle herdsmen 13%, and cattle theft 8%. Majority were clinically stable on presentation with arrows in the head, neck, chest and abdomen this resulted in various surgical procedures in order to remove the arrows and repair damaged viscera. Unstable presentations resulted in mortalities (4.1%) preoperatively. Wound infection was the most common complication in patients who presented late. Improvements in the socio-economic conditions in the region and legislation on the use of these weapons would reduce the incidence of these injuries.