Fracture patternsas seen at the accident and emergency department of the university of maiduguri teaching hospital Nigeria: - a five year prospective study

Abstract

Most trauma resulting from vehicular accidents or otherwise, often involve the skeleton (made up of 206 bones), resulting into a fracture. Fractures are a cause of high morbidity and occasionally mortality. Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the anatomical regions most involved, fracture types, their causes, outcome of treatment and the commonest complication of the fracture in our environment. Method: A five year prospective study (January 2005 to December 2009) was undertaken. All patients presented at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, both fresh and old fractures were included. All were followed up to discharge from the hospital and some years after. Those that died were noted. A proforma was used to collect the data. Follow up was between 2 to5 years. Results: During the period of the study, there were 24, 041 emergencies that reported to UMTH, 6,535(27.2%) were due to RTA and 596 (2.5%) had fractures, presenting with 677 fractures. There were 477(80.2%) males and 189(19.8%) females, giving a ratio of 4:1. The lower limbs were affected in 247(41.5%) patients, upper limbs in 146(24.6%), more than one region 54(9.1%), maxillofacial 47(7.9%), skull 41(6.9%), spinal fractures 33(5.5%) and
pelvic fractures 28(4.7%). There were 435(73.2%) motor vehicular cases, (3.4%) follows domestic accidents and11(1.9%) from assaults. There were 66 associated injuries. Conclusion: Fractures occurred in about 10% of RTAs with males more involved than Females (4:1) and motor vehicular accidents causing most of the fractures. The lower limbs were more involved and most of the fractures were closed. Association with head injury leads to more mortality.