Abstract:
Background: Chest injuries are major public health problems that commonly appear on the
Morbidity and mortality reports of the health institutions in Ethiopia. Despite this prevailing
Phenomenon, limited attention has been given to chest injuries as health problems and which
is continuing challenge for the health professionals.
Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the magnitude and management
outcome of chest injury in Aksum St. Marry and Referral Hospital.
Method: A Three year institutional based retrospective cross-sectional study design was
conducted at Aksum St. Marry and referral hospital on 82 patients with chest injury. Data
were collected by using interviewer administrated structured questioners by trained data
collectors and analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Descriptive analysis was performed
to describe number and percentage to assess the magnitude and management outcome of
chest injury.
Result: Chest injury was found to be 4 %( n=82) in the hospital. And most victims ware
males69 (84.1%) with the peak age range in between 30-39 years 34%(28). And fighting was
the leading cause of chest injury witch accounts 41.5%. And patients who sustained animal
injury were 13 times more likely to have bad outcome than patients who sustained
chest injury by smuggling.
Blunt type of chest injury was the prevalent 68.3 %( 56). And 39% of the patients had
associated Injury, commonly fracture injury (17)20.7%. Hem pneumothorax is the leading
diagnosis with was made on 58.5% of the patients. 79.3% of the patients managed only by
inserting chest tube. 74 (90.2%) had good outcome having been improved without
complication. And 2(2.4%) patients died. pneumonia is the prevalent post injury
complications 5(6.1%). And 65.9% patients were stayed for 2 to 7 days in the hospital.
Conclusion &Recommendation: Fighting founded to be the major etiological factor with a
higher rate of blunt chest injuries. The majority of the patients were successfully managed by
Thoracotomy,Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of inter
personal violence and avoidance of Sharpe materials handling by the civilians, RTA,
animal injury, and occupational injuries, and also improve management of surgical
emergencies from the place of accident to the hospital will decrease the overall
morbidity and mortality.
