PATTERN OF INJURIES IN FATAL MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS SEEN IN LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (LASUTH): A FIVE-YEAR AUTOPSY BASED STUDY

Abstract

Background: Deaths from motorcycle accident injuries have remained a major public health
issue in Nigeria over the years. This trend has become more disturbing owing to the
increasing use of motorcycles for commercial transportation (popularly called Okada) in
major towns and cities.
Objectives: The study aimed to determine the age and gender distribution of the victims, as
well as to identify the cause of death and the anatomical pattern of injuries seen in bodies of
victims of fatal motorcycle accidents. In addition, the study was intended to examine the
effect of the enactment and enforcement of a road traffic law in Lagos that prohibited the use
of motorcycles on major roads and bridges in the metropolis.
Methodology: This is a 5-year autopsy-based study of all motorcycle accident deaths seen in
the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching
Hospital between December 2009 and November 2014. Data such as age, sex, anatomical
pattern of injuries on the body and more were retrieved from autopsy reports, hospital case
notes, extracts from police diary, report of relatives of the deceased and from other sources as
appropriate.
Results: Motorcycle accidents accounted for 156 (2.8%) of all the autopsies done (5,661),
and 156 (18.4%) of all Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) autopsies (849) performed over the
study period, with a male: female ratio of 6:1. The peak age of victims was 31-40 years
(30.9%). Majority of the victims, 67 (47.2%) were Motorcycle riders, 48 (33.8%) were
pillion passengers while 27 (19.0%) were pedestrians. Head injuries accounted for most
(41.4%) of the injuries seen and majority of the victims died of craniocerebral injury 53
(50.7%).
The enactment and subsequent strict enforcement of the Lagos traffic law in August 2012
resulted in a 33% reduction in the number of motorcycle accident deaths.

Conclusion: This study showed that males in the fourth decade of life are the major victims
of motorcycle accident death. Majority of the victims were the rider of the motorcycle. Most
of them died of craniocerebral injury. The enactment of a road traffic law in Lagos resulted in
a drastic reduction in the number of deaths from motorcycle accident injuries.
Key words: Motorcycle, accidents, craniocerebral injury, Lagos, traffic law.