FREQUENCY AND TYPE OF FRACTURES ENTERING THE EMERGENCY UNITS OF ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITALS

BACKGROUND Trauma is globally encountered in the emergency department on regular intervals placing a burden on the economy through an increase in the mortality and morbidity. Multiple types of fractures have been notified leading from moderate to severe disability. The aim of the study is to assess different types of fracture entering the emergency department, the risk of these fractures and also to find the association between genders. A cross sectional survey was conducted on 450 participants in different Emergency Departments of tertiary care units of Karachi. It has been observed that fracture cases are increasing in emergencies in Karachi. Road Traffic Injuries (RTA) with 41.6% is the most dominant cause of fracture whereas fall or slip injuries and brawl/fight show 22.2% and 14.7% respectively. Generally, alcohol and cigarette smoking has adverse effect yet 91.6% population revealed no relationship. Regional distribution of fracture shows lower limb fracture with 40.9% as most commonly occurring fractures where male percentages is higher than females. The selected population presented no idea about BMD and Vitamin D test which causes fractures in old age commonly.