Epidemiology, mechanisms and patterns of lower limb fractures at an accident service centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Lower limb fracture burden overwhelms most of the tertiary care facilities in Sri Lanka. Lack of enough data and a trauma registry in Sri Lanka has masked the associated epidemiology, patterns and the mechanisms of the lower limb fractures. Aim of our study was to analyse the data and put forward an initiative for further studies.

 

Methods: we collected data from the admissions with isolated lower limb fractures to the accident service Colombo South Teaching Hospital for a period of four months with the aid of an interviewer administered questionnaire.

 

Results: we had 323 admissions with lower limb fractures out of 4823 all the admissions. There were 334 fractures. Motor vehicle crashes were the commonest mechanism. Tibia/ fibula were the commonest bones to get fractured. Most of the culprits were in the age range of 21-40. 68% of the males were under the influence of alcohol. 15% of the fractures were open.

 

Conclusion: we were able to emphasize the epidemiology, mechanisms and the fracture types as planned in the objectives.