Penetrating abdominal trauma

Calabar a fast developing urban town renowned for its low crime rate and cleanliness, is witnessing an upsurge in violence which could be counter productive to its development especially in tourism. We undertook this study to evaluate the patern of injury and proffer solutions. Patients operated for peneratrating abdominal trauma from January 2000 – December 2004 were retrospectively studied and compared with the period June 1994. It is concluded that there is an increasing wave of violence with gun being the commonest offending agent. Curbing illegal possession of firearms and use of other offensive weapons, prevention of armed robbery, cult activities, communal/religious crisis and political thuggery by education is advocated. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 15(2) 2005: 47-5