TITLE:
Epidemiology of Open Limb Fractures in a Country with Low-Income
AUTHORS:
Noufanangue Kanfitine Kombate, Atchi Walla, Kolima Akloa, Komi Amakoutou, Batarabadja Bakriga, Gamal Ayouba, Yaovi Yannick Dellanh, Anani Abalo, Assang Michel Dossim
KEYWORDS:
Open Fracture, Limb, Epidemiology
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.7 No.11,
November
9,
2017
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Open limb fractures are
frequent and severe. Very often they result from high velocity traffic
accidents. The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiologic aspects of
open limb fractures in order to improve prevention and care. Material and
Methods: It was a retrospective study carried out in the Department of
Orthopaedic and traumatology Surgery of Afagnan hospital. It concerned the
files of patients admitted from January 1st to December 31st 2016. Patients of 15 years old and older who presented open limb fractures were
included in the study. The study variables were: age, sex, occupation, trauma aetiology,
injury mechanism, location and type of lesions. An X-ray (antero-posterior and
lateral view) of the injured limb segment was done in all patients. Results: On 87 patients, 148 cases of fractures were collected. The mean age was
38.08 years with extremes of 15 and 82. There were 23 women (26.4%) and 64 men
(73.6%). The most common etiology was traffic accidents (73.5%). Motorcycle accidents
(58.3%); accidents involving motorcycle and car (19.4%). Accidents at work
represented (16.1%). Lower limbs were more affected (77.1%). Open fractures
classified Gustillo-Anderson type III were predominant with type IIIa (51.0%),
IIIb (32.6%) and IIIc (16.3%). Conclusion: Open limb fractures are
severe. They are mainly due to the increase of high-velocity traffic accidents.
This explains the predominance of the young male population. Road safety and
all actors’ behaviour change are essential for the reduction of
traffic accident morbidity.