ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To report the diagnostic and therapeutic options of missile head and neck injuries. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To present our experience in the management of head and neck missile injuries as seen in our centre. METHODOLOGY: All the patients with head and neck missile injuries who were managed in the ENT and Dental services of Yalgado University Teaching Hospital, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso between January 2003 and December 2012 were reviewed. The data obtained from medical records included demographic data, history, physical findings, and site of injury, diagnosis, type of treatment/surgery, complications and outcome. RESULTS: Out of a total of 32 patients in this study, there were 26 males and 6 females with a sex ratio of 4.3:1. Their ages ranged from 18 to 63 years with a mean of 32 years ± 5.2. The age range of 20-40 accounted for 68.7% of the patients. The injury was accidental in 37.5%, assault in 56.3 and self inflicted/suicide in 6.3%. Most (59.4%) of the patients had multiple injuries while in 50 % of the cases, the injuries affected the face. Surgical intervention was done in 59.4% of the patients and conservative treatment in 40.6 % of the patients. Complications were noted in 52% of the patients. Seven patients died given a mortality rate of 21.9%. CONCLUSION: The head and neck missile injuries are not uncommon in our environment with a high mortality and morbidity rates.
