Assessment of characteristics of limb fractures and their management in patients aged 18 years and above at Vihiga County Referral Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess characteristics of limb fractures among adult patients and their management at Vihiga County and Referral Hospital from September 2019 to September 2020. The study also aimed at identifying the factors associated with length of hospital stay of patients with limb fractures at the facility.
Design: A descriptive retrospective study design was used in this study. Data was obtained from review of medical records on limb fracture admissions to the Surgical Wards from September 2019 to September 2020.
Setting: The study was carried out in the surgical ward at Vihiga County Referral Hospital, Vihiga County in Kenya.
Participants: The target population was patients admitted to the surgical ward due to limb fractures from 1st September 2019 to 30th September 2020.
Results: A majority (83%) of the fracture patients were male. The commonest mechanism of injury was RTA (54.2%) followed by falls (31.9%). Motorcycle accidents accounted for 84% of the RTAs. Fractures of the femur were the most common (48.9%) followed by tibio-fibula fractures (29.8%). Majority (47.87%) of the fracture patients received non-operative treatment. The main factors associated with prolonged length of stay included smoking, lack of health insurance and operative treatment.
Conclusion: Smoking and lack of health insurance are associated with longer hospital stay for patients with limb fractures.