| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 6
| Issue : 1 | Page : 6-10 |
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Motorcycle spokes entrapment foot injuries: Prevalence, and pattern of presentation in a private orthopedic and trauma center, Southeast Nigeria – A 10-year retrospective analysis
Thaddeus Chika Agu
Department of Surgery, First Choice Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, Anambra State; Department of Surgery, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Thaddeus Chika Agu
First Choice Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Imo State University, Owerri
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ajt.ajt_8_17
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Background: Pupils commuting on the backseats of motorcycles to and from schools is commonplace in cities where motorcycles are used for intracity transportation. Often times, the feet of these children get entrapped between the spokes as the motorcycles are in motion and this could cause severe injuries. This is a major health concern in Nigeria because of the increasing use of motorcycle as a transport system.
Study Design and Setting: This is a 10-year retrospective analysis of all the motorcycle spokes injured patients admitted in a private orthopedic and trauma center in the southeast region of Nigeria between January 2007 and December 2016.
Results: A total of 690 patients seen during the period under review were victims of motorcycle accidents. Seventy-one patients (10.3%) had spokes entrapment foot injuries. They were mostly between the ages of 5–<10 years, n = 50 (70.4%) with the mean of 6.2 years, standard deviation = 1.093. Majority of the injuries were Grade III and the worrisome patterns were degloved heels n = 26 (15.4%) and Achilles tendon tear n = 20 (11.8%). The most significant complication was marginal necrosis of the heel pad n = 8 (30.8%). The patients except one had full recovery and without morbidity.
Discussion: Motorcycle spokes entrapment foot injuries occur commonly in children passengers with variation in pattern and severity. Early presentation and prompt treatment made the outcome of these injuries favorable.
Conclusion: The dangling feet of a child passenger sitting on a motorcycle could get entrapped in the spoke wheel causing injuries. Strong and enforceable legislation on the use of commercial motorcycles and public enlightenment on these injury patterns are advocated.
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