Orthopaedic Fractures among Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Introduction: Orthopedic fractures caused by chronic metabolic bone disease, overuse, or road traffic accidents are among the most significant burdens on society. Furthermore, a growing number of people undergoing arthroplasty and an increase in life expectancy seem to contribute to an increase in orthopaedic fractures. However, research on orthopaedic fracture prevalence or types has been scarce in low- and middle-income countries, including Nepal. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of orthopaedic fractures among patients attending a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among patients attending a tertiary care centre was conducted between 19 May and 18 November 2023 during which date from 1 January to 30 December 2021 were collected from the hospital records. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee. A convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 7609 people, 2518 (33.09%) (12.97–10.55, 95% Confidence Interval) had orthopaedic fractures. A total of 1925 (76.45%) were males. There were 339 (95.49%) fractures associated with two-wheelers and 307 (86.48%) with four-wheelers. There were 1387 (55.08%) soft tissue injuries, 198 (7.86%) skull injuries, and 116 (4.61%) facial injuries. Additionally, there were 73 (2.90%) fractures of the femur, 71 (2.82%) fractures of the phalanx, and 70 (2.78%) fractures of the clavicle. Conclusions: The prevalence of orthopaedic fractures was found to be higher than in other studies done in similar settings.