Assessment of Pre-Hospital Care for Maxillofacial Trauma Patients in Ondo State

Pre-hospital care constitutes a critical determinant of outcome for patients sustaining maxillofacial trauma. In many parts of Nigeria, the absence of structured emergency medical services means that trauma victims rely on bystanders, commercial vehicles, or inadequately equipped first responders for initial management and transport. This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluates the nature and quality of pre-hospital care received by maxillofacial trauma patients presenting to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery unit at Federal Medical Centre Owo, Ondo State, South West Nigeria. Over a twelve-month period, 95 consecutive trauma admissions were surveyed using a structured questionnaire capturing mode of transport, time elapsed from injury to hospital arrival, type of first aid administered, and characteristics of the person providing initial care. Results indicate that 82% of patients were transported to hospital by commercial vehicles or motorcycles, with ambulance use reported in only 3.2% of cases. Average time from injury to hospital arrival was 4.7 hours. First aid was administered by a medically unqualified person in 69% of cases, with inappropriate measures such as tight pressure dressings, herbal application, and oral feeding of unconscious patients noted. Airway assessment and hemorrhage control were rarely performed before hospital arrival. The study advocates for emergency response training programs targeting commercial drivers, community health volunteers, and first responders in Ondo State. Keywords: pre-hospital care, maxillofacial trauma, emergency response, Ondo State, South West Nigeria.