Agriculture related injuries; Spectrum and management outcome in General Surgical unit

Traumatic injuries related to agricultural related profession can lead to serious disability and even mortality. To study the spectrum of agricultural production related injuries and their management outcome in General Surgical unit. RetrospectiveDescriptive, Interventional. January 2012 to December 2013. Surgical Department Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital Gujrat and Surgical department Islam Medical and Dental College Sialkot. Data of 33 patients involved in an accident and sustained injury while operating agriculture machine/ equipment is being presented with reference to age, gender, nature of injury, type of equipment /machine involved and management outcome. Record of total 33 patients with agriculture related injuries was analysed retrospectively. Male population is more involved in agriculture related accidents seen in 20 out of 33 patients [60.6%], female involvement in such accidents is not uncommon seen in 13 patients [39.9%]. Fodder Cutter [TOKA] was the commonest agricultural equipment found involved in 17 [51.5%] cases. Traumatic amputation both minor or major type of upper limb was most frequent injury seen in 19 [57.7%] cases and infection was the commonest complication occurred in 13 cases. Fournier's gangrene and tetanus was the most dreadful complication with 100% mortality. Overall mortality was 03.03%. Agriculture machinery related accidents cause serious injuries that lead to disability, morbidity and often mortality. Victims are usually young. Awareness campaigns regarding hazards and safety measures in using agriculture machinery should be launched with the help of media. Re-implantation / re-vascularization surgery must be considered in case of limb amputations in selected cases

Comparison between primary closure and open technique for the surgical treatment of pilonidal sinus

Objective: to compare the two different surgical techniques for the treatment of pilonidal sinus primary closure and open technique in respect of hospital stay, duration of healing time and rate of recurrence

Material and Methods: this prospective randomized study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Fatima Memorial Hospital, and Lahore from January 2003 to December 2008. A total number of 42 cases of chronic pilonidal sinus, all belonging to Pakistani nationality were identified and divided in two groups randomly. Patients in Group A were treated by excision and primary mid line closure of the defect while in Group B the wounds were left open. After excision to be healed by granulation. Four patients were lost at follow up. The remaining 38 cases, 32 males and 6 females, were finally analyzed. Mean follow up period was 2.5 years

Results: the mean hospital stay was 5.5 days in group A while 8.2 in groups B [p=0:025and. The mean healing time was much shorter in group A than group B which is statistically significant [p=0.001and. Complications in both groups were comparable

Conclusion: excision with primary closure of the defect has less morbidity and is a cost effective way of treating chronic pilonidal sinus