The pattern of ankle fractures in Kenyatta national hospital
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Date
2015Author
Khanbhai, Mustafa M
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background
Ankle fractures are among the most common injuries treated by orthopeadic surgeons.The
management is dependent on the extent of bony involement, soft tissue and ligamentous
injury.
Epidemiology of these fractures is changing with rise in incidence among elderly population
as seen in the Western world and the young population in Africa. The commonest aetiology
of these fracturesin Africa is road traffic accidents. The treatment of ankle fractures is
challenging despite several studies and the advancement of treatment modalities. Kenyatta
National Hospital deals with this fractures on daily basis. This study looked at the pattern of
ankle fractures in Kenyatta National Hospital.
Objectives
To determine the pattern and modalities of treatment of adult ankle fractures among patients
presenting at Kenyatta National Hospital .
Study design
A cross sectional prospective analytical study.
Setting
Kenyata National Hospital orthopedic unit
Patients and method
Patients with ankle fractures were recruited by the investigator and the assistant. The patients
who gave consent and met the inclusion criteria were recruitedin the study. A questionaire
was used to determine the age, gender, socioeconomic status, mechanism and type of
injuries.
Results
A total of 100 patients recruited over the period of 3months period. The mean age was
40years with range of 20-80 years. The sample had 70 males(70%)and 30 females(30%).
Most fractures were as a result of motorcycle accidents accounting for 34% and least being
assault 2.%. 73% had closed injuries 27% open injuries. B2 type being the most common
type(35%) of injury.Non-operative treatment of fractures wascommonly employedwith a
proportion of 68% while operativetreatment had a proportion of 28%. During the period of
study the 54.2% cases healed with no complications while 45.8% cases were associated with
complications.Two of the cases were lost to follow up.
Conclusion
The study showed a high rate of fractures due to road traffic accidents secondary to
motorcycle injury. The majority were males in their third decade and older women. Weber
type B was the commonest type of ankle fractures and most of them treated non operatively
Publisher
University of Nairobi