Epidemiology of hand surgical cases operated in tertiary referral centers in Dhaka

Abstract

Background: Hand surgical cases in Bangladesh are managed both by orthopedic and plastic surgeons. There are very limited number of hand surgeons available in the country. Tertiary referral centers especially in the city of Dhaka cater for most of the hand surgery patients treated in the country. Objective were to understand the needs of the community for hand surgery. Methods: This rretrospective study spanning July, 2017 to June, 2018- used data from the operation register of the Burn and Plastic surgery department, DMCH (Dhaka medical college and hospital) and hand surgery department, NITOR (National institute of traumatology and orthopedics). Results: Of the sample of 2000 cases, 1000 data were collected from Dhaka medical college hospital, of which 670 (67%) were routine cases and 330 (33%) were emergency department cases. Of the 1000 cases from NITOR including 317(31.7%) routine cases and 683 (68.3%) cases from emergency department. Demography of the population 76% male and 24% female cases from DMCH; and 80% male and 20% female from NITOR. In Burn and Plastic surgery department of DMCH the percentage of diagnosed cases-acute burn (55%), acute trauma (9.5%), PBSC (21.5%), post trauma deformity (9%), and congenital cases (5%) and in NITOR- acute burn (1%), acute trauma (68%), PBSC (9%), post trauma deformity (20%), and congenital cases (2%) respectively. Conclusions: This study shows the needs of the community for hand surgery and the portfolio of cases performed would be guide for an evidence-based approach to the development of services and training of hand surgeon in Bangladesh.