Some selected characteristics and associated factors of patients with limb fractures admitted to Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya

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.