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Management of Bilateral Femoral Fractures in Pregnancy: A Case Report
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We report here the management of bilateral femoral fractures in a pregnant woman who was presented to us at about 35 weeks of gestation following a road traffic accident.
CASE REPORT: A 39 year old pregnant civil servant was referred to us 9 days after sustaining injuries to both lower limbs from a road traffic accident. She was a front seat passenger of a saloon car that somersaulted after a burst of its front tyre. She was thrown out of the car and sustained close injuries to both thighs. There was no history of loss of consciousness, abdominal pains or vaginal bleeding.
METHOD: Initial resuscitation was done at the referral hospital where the injured lower limbs were immobilized with skin traction while minor bruises were cleaned and dressed.
She was a Gravida 4, Para 3+o (all alive), at 35 weeks gestation. On examination, she was a middle aged pregnant lady, not in any obvious distress, afebrile, not pale and anicteric. The abdomen was enlarged, soft with no tenderness, with a fundal height of 34 weeks, cephalic presentation, left occipto-anterior position and the foetal heart rate was 140 beats/min, regular. No vaginal bleeding.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, fractures following road traffic accidents are becoming common especially in these days of high technology with the increased speed of motor vehicles plying our increasingly deteriorating roads. Since there is no sex or age discrimination it therefore means that pregnant women will become more predisposed to sustaining fractures especially those with pregnancy associated osteoporosis.
It is advised that the orthopaedic surgeon should recruit the services of an obstetrician who will advise and manage the pregnancy to the point where the baby is safe for delivery.
Nig Jnl Orthopaedics & Trauma Vol.2(1) 2003: 36-38
CASE REPORT: A 39 year old pregnant civil servant was referred to us 9 days after sustaining injuries to both lower limbs from a road traffic accident. She was a front seat passenger of a saloon car that somersaulted after a burst of its front tyre. She was thrown out of the car and sustained close injuries to both thighs. There was no history of loss of consciousness, abdominal pains or vaginal bleeding.
METHOD: Initial resuscitation was done at the referral hospital where the injured lower limbs were immobilized with skin traction while minor bruises were cleaned and dressed.
She was a Gravida 4, Para 3+o (all alive), at 35 weeks gestation. On examination, she was a middle aged pregnant lady, not in any obvious distress, afebrile, not pale and anicteric. The abdomen was enlarged, soft with no tenderness, with a fundal height of 34 weeks, cephalic presentation, left occipto-anterior position and the foetal heart rate was 140 beats/min, regular. No vaginal bleeding.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, fractures following road traffic accidents are becoming common especially in these days of high technology with the increased speed of motor vehicles plying our increasingly deteriorating roads. Since there is no sex or age discrimination it therefore means that pregnant women will become more predisposed to sustaining fractures especially those with pregnancy associated osteoporosis.
It is advised that the orthopaedic surgeon should recruit the services of an obstetrician who will advise and manage the pregnancy to the point where the baby is safe for delivery.
Nig Jnl Orthopaedics & Trauma Vol.2(1) 2003: 36-38
