Abstract:
A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out during the three month period 14th
August to 14th November 2007, among patients with limb fractures admitted to Teaching
Hospital, Karapitiya (THK). An interviewer administered questionnaire and data o..
extraction form were used as study instruments. Among all admissions (9749) during the
study period 6 percent (581) were patients with fractures. Out of all fractures 86.5 percent
(505) were limb fractures. 16.2 percent of patients with imb fractures were children in
pediatric age group (::S 12 years). 61 percent of patients were ales with a male to female
ratio 1.5: 1. A statistically significant association (p 0.001) I as observed between age and
sex in those over 12 years of age. 67 percent of patients admitted to THK following limb
fractures were married. 95.2 percent of patients were Sinhalese and 87.1 percent were from
the Galle district. Approximately one third of patients were in the total monthly family
income group of Rs.5,000 to 1 U,OOO. 24 percent of patients or care givers of children
were unskilled laborers while 37 percent were in the social class Va. The majority of
patients (54.2 percent) had upper limb fractures. The radius was the commonest bone (62
percent ) to be fractured in the upper limb and the distal end was the commonest site (74.7
percent ) in radial fractures. Out of all fractures 44.2 percent were lower limb fractures.
Tibia and femur fractures accounted for 38.8 percent and 37.9 percentage of lower limb
fractures respectively. The proximal end was the commonest site to be fractured in the
femur 68.2 percent. In tibia shaft and distal end fractures showed near similar percent.(37.9
percent , 36.8 percentage respectively). 42.2 percent of accidents which caused limb
fractures occurred at home and 40.4 percent occurred on road and they were identified as
common places of occurrence of limb fractures. The majority of females (67.7 percent )
experienced limb fractures at home and males (50 percent.) on road. A statistically
significant association (P 0.001) was observed between place of occurrence and sex. Home
accidents accounted for 34.5 present of limb fractures and Road Traffic Accidents (R T As)
accounted for 3 0.7 percent.
