The Rambewa bus bomb, a clinico-pathological review

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Exposure to an explosion produces a well-defined pattern of injury. A retrospective study of the pattern of injury sustained by the victims of a blast in a vehicle has been undertaken. METHOD: Injuries sustained by the eight (08) patients who died on the spot were obtained,with permission, from the records of the Judicial Medical Officer. Injuries of those who survived initially, including the two (02), who succumbed to their- injuries after admission to the hospital, were gathered from the hospital records. RESULTS: The dead had all suffered multiple system injuries and or traumatic amputation of lower extremity whilst most survivors suffered skeletal injuries alone. Two (02) of the survivors had penetrating abdominal injuries together with skeletal injuries. CONCLUSION: Presence of multiple system injuries and/or traumatic amputation of limbs are a poor prognostic indicator in a blast scenario. Haemorrhage was the most frequent life-threatening problem among the survivors.