Outcome of Management of Nasal Trauma in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Nasal bone is the most frequently fractured facial bone because of its prominence and delicate structure. The etiology of nasal trauma can vary in different places. Port-Harcourt is one of the Niger Delta states and a major city in South-South Nigeria with a rising trend in communal and social conflicts resulting in injuries. This study aimed to determine the etiological factors and outcome of management of nasal trauma among patients in University of Port-Hartcourt Teaching Hospital.

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients that presented to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department, of UPTH, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria with nasal trauma within a period of 6 years (from June 2012 to July 2018). Data was retrieved from medical records, analyzed using descriptive statistics and results presented in tables.

 Results and Discussion: A total of sixty-six (66) patients with nasal trauma were seen within the study period. There were 48 males and 18 females. The age range was 2 years to 72 years with the majority of patients in the age range 21-30 years (42.4%). Assaults constituted the highest etiological factor (45.5%) followed by road traffic accident (24.2%). The commonest symptom was epistaxis (90.9%). About 60% of patients received conservative treatment while 30.3% had surgical intervention. A significant improvement in nasal deformity, aesthetic and airway was achieved in all the patients that had surgical intervention.

Conclusion: Assault as the commonest etiological factor implicated in nasal trauma may be due to increase in social unrest in Niger-Delta. Close reduction can significantly improve structural and functional complications of simple non-comminuted nasal fracture.