What question did this study set out to answer?

This analysis aims to understand mortality patterns from trauma deaths in an emergency department in Nigeria.

February 16, 2026Open Access

A Retrospective Review of Trauma Deaths in the Accident and Emergency Department of a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A One-Year Analysis

Key Points

This analysis aims to understand mortality patterns from trauma deaths in an emergency department in Nigeria.
Retrospective review of trauma patients in the A&E department from January to December 2022.
Data extracted from departmental trauma registry and patient case files.
Descriptive statistics analyzed the data focusing on deceased patients.
3,325 trauma patients managed with a 3.5% in-hospital mortality rate (n=118).
Majority of deaths (84.0%, n=99) were males, predominantly within the 16-39 age group (54.7%, n=65).
Road traffic accidents accounted for 82.4% (n=97) of fatal injuries, with head and neck injuries responsible for 67.7% (n=80) of deaths.
Significant lack of pre-hospital care was noted; only 2.9% (n=3) arrived by ambulance.
78.5% (n=93) of deaths occurred within 24 hours of arrival.

Abstract

Background: Trauma is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with a disproportionate burden on low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Understanding the specific patterns of trauma deaths is crucial for developing targeted interventions. This study aimed to review the socio-demographic and clinico-epidemiological characteristics of trauma deaths in the Accident and Emergency (A only 2.9% (n=3) of patients arrived by ambulance. Major challenges encountered during management included patient financial constraints (19.5%) and the non-availability of hospital resources (17.8%). Most deaths, 78.5% (n=93), occurred within 24 hours of arrival. Conclusion: Trauma-related mortality at this Nigerian tertiary center is primarily driven by RTAs affecting young males, with head injuries being the leading cause of death. The findings highlight critical systemic failures, including a near-total absence of formal emergency medical services and significant in-hospital resource limitations. There is an urgent need for policy interventions focused on road safety, establishment of a structured pre-hospital care system, and strengthening of hospital emergency services to reduce preventable trauma deaths.

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