INCIDENCE AND CHALLENGES IN TRAUMA RADIOGRAPHY IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL, SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

complications including inability to precisely locate the site and nature of injury. Hence the need for an urgent diagnosis
and resuscitation. This study was carried out to establish the incidence of trauma and the radiographers' challenges in managing trauma patients in
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Anambra state South East Nigeria. There was retrospective data review of
trauma cases from January 2014- June 2015, and a questionnaire was used to generate information from practicing radiographers. Twenty five
(25) questionnaires were shared to practicing radiographers of the hospital, and twenty, (20) questionnaires were returned. A simple descriptive
data analysis was used to calculate the frequencies and the percentages. Within the study period, the total number of trauma cases was 601
(11.23%) of the total conventional X-ray investigations done in the department. The different anatomical parts are as follows; chest 227 (4.24%),
skull 145 (2.71%), spine 101 (1.89%), extremities 86 (1.61%) and abdomen 42 (0.78%). Also, inability to visualize cervical spine C7 /T1 junction
and unco-operative patients are the greatest challenges facing the radiographers during their investigations. The study established the incidence of
trauma cases from January 2014 – June 2015 and the challenges faced by the radiographers during trauma investigations in the hospital.