A cross sectional study of early functional outcomes of casting of tibial shaft fractures at the university teaching hospitals-adult hospital , Lusaka, Zambia.
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Date
2021
Authors
Mhone, Rowland
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Tibial shaft fractures are a common presentation following high energy trauma such as
road traffic accidents. The gold standard for the treatment of such injuries is by
Intramedullary nailing, but in a resource-limited setting, the casting of such injuries is
considered as appropriate. At the University Teaching Hospital most tibial shaft
fractures were treated with casting due to several reasons including socioeconomic status
and lack of theatre space.
The functional outcome following such an intervention locally was assumed not to be as
good as alluded to in literature. This was evidence by the indications of most of the
Intramedullary nailing being failed non-operative management. The purpose of this
study was to investigate the early functional outcomes of tibial shaft fractures treated by
casting at the University Teaching Hospital. The results of the study will guide the
rationale of continuing on the current path of treatment locally.
Using a cross-sectional analysis, participants at three months post-injury with tibial shaft
fracture presenting to the orthopedic clinic for their scheduled review appointment were
randomized and 138 were enrolled and assessed using the Johner- Wruhs criteria. The
results of this study were examined against those stated in the literature.
The 138 participants comprised 102 (73.9%) males and 36(26.1%) females with an age
range of 19-64years. The median age was 34.5 (IQR14).
The result of the study showed that 75.4% of the participants had good to excellent
results following casting at three months post-injury. Fair to poor results was seen in
24.6% of the participants
The study demonstrates that the results of tibial shaft fractures treated with casting at the
UTH are good. It is in tandem with the results that are shown in similar studies done
elsewhere in a similar socioeconomic setting.
Keywords: Functional outcomes; intramedullary nailing; Johner- Wruh criteria;
Casting.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Fracture Fixation. , Fractures-- Bone--Rehabilitation. , Fracture Healing. , Fractures, Bone--surgery. , Fracture Fixation, Internal--methods.