TITLE:
Results of the Traditional Treatment of Fractures of Patients Discharged against Medical Advice from the Orthopedics Department of the Ouahigouya Regional University Hospital (Burkina Faso)
AUTHORS:
Mamoudou Sawadogo, Salam Ouedraogo, Sayouba Tinto, Malick Diallo, Sibiri Abdoul Karim Bouda, Abdourahamane Ouangre, Madi Savadogo
KEYWORDS:
Fractures, Bonesetter, Discharge against Medical Advice
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.12 No.1,
January
13,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Binding retains an important place in Africa. Leaving a health facility
to see a bonesetter is common there, but a source of complications. The purpose
of this work was to analyze the results obtained by bonesetter after discharge against medical advice. Methodology: Analytical cross-sectional study over a period of one year, including
all patients admitted for limb fracture, discharged against medical advice for
treatment with a bonesetter. Results: Thirty-nine patients were
selected. The average age was 36.9 years, and the sex ratio was 5.50. The
fractures were open in 35.9%. At a mean follow-up of 19 months, the course was
marked by pain in 34.4% and inequality in limb length in 62.5%. Thirteen
fractures (40.6%) were consolidated with axis defect, and 11 were without axis
defect (34.4%). There were eight non-union (25%), and eleven patients (34.4%)
presented with stiffness in one or more joints. Seven patients had died. Discussion: The problem of discharge against medical advice is found in all hospitals but
is particularly marked for fractures in our context. The absence of an X-ray
and ignorance of the rules of asepsis lead to complications. Only the fractures
of the two bones of the leg had progressed well (5/8 good results). The rate of
vicious calluses (40.6%) and non-union (25%) is high. Conclusion: Although
a few cases have progressed favorably, the results of patients traditionally
treated after discharge against medical advice are generally poor.