Brief communication: Adult limb fractures in Tikur Anbessa Hospital caused by road traffic injuries: Half year plain radiographic pattern

Abstract

Musculoskeletal road traffic injuries (RTIs) are alarmingly increasing encounters in trauma centers of developing countries and they are public health emergency. Knowledge of commonly presenting radiological pattern helps in planning and getting prepared for managing these injuries. This prospective study done at Addis Ababa University, Medical Faculty, “Tikur Anbessa” Hospital (TAH) was aimed at detailing the radiology of musculoskeletal RTIs in a half- year period from March to August 2007, in Addis Ababa. A total of 202 patients with musculoskeletal road traffic injuries were included in the study. Of the total 422 adult patients who presented to the emergency department of TAH and had musculoskeletal injuries, in nearly half, 49.7% (202 patients) the cause of injury was road traffic accident (RTA). The highest frequency of fractures occurred in the femur 32(15.8%) followed by tibio-fibular 29(14.4%) and humerus 26(12.9%). Incomplete fractures comparatively accounted smaller proportions, 23(11.4%). Transverse fractures stand out the first 125(61.9. %) followed by oblique 38 (18.8%) and comminuted 29 (14.4%) fractures. Road traffic injuries (RTI) were responsible for almost half of the musculoskeletal injuries. Machine injuries and fall injuries were second and third respectively. Most of the fractures were simple transverse and may bemanageable on a day case basis. RTI needs special attention, prevention, intervention and planning of management. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2010;24(1):61-63]