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This study was undertaken as part of a wider prospective study by the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Trauma Study Group. The specific objective was to highlight the pattern, distribution causative and contributory factors to head injury in our locality and to assess the outcome of treatment. The overall aim was to establish those epidemiological factors which may be targeted in the prevention and improvement of outcome. This paper is the preliminary report of this on-going study. The pattern and distribution of head injuries shows that a typical head injured patient in our locality is a male, aged between 21 and 30 years involved in a motorcycle related accident. Accidents frequently occured between 7 and 9pm and though 75% of patients arrived in hospital within 6 hours of injury, 17% of all cases died probably from suboptimal in-hospital care even in a tertiary centre. None of the patients used a protective helmet or restraining seatbelt. Prevention remains the key management option in these injuries. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 17 (1) 2007: pp. 14-20

A prospective study was carried out to ascertain the pattern of soft tissue and skeletal injuries sustained by children at home in Lagos, Nigeria. 182 patients who entered the study sustained 185 injuries . Age ranged from 7days to 14years with mean of 5.17years. Male to female ratio was 1.28:1. Fall was the leading cause of injury accounting for 162 cases (89.0%). Fracture was the most common injury sustained (86.8%) with supracondylar fracture of the humerus being the single most common fracture (28.5%). Injuries sustained by children at home can have far-reaching consequences. Prevention involves active participation of all stakeholders. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 17 (1) 2007: pp. 33-36