Management of Open Tibia Shaft Fractures in Ghana: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Authors

  • Dominic Konadu-Yeboah Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Helena Okrah Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Kwasi Kusi Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Peter Konadu Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
  • Samuel Frimpong Odoom Child Health Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Johnny Sobotie Trauma Surgeon, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Senyo Gudugbe , Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v7i1.140

Keywords:

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Short Form 36, Open Tibial Shaft Fracture, Intramedullary, Gustillo and Anderson

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate patient and injury characteristics and functional outcomes of open tibial shaft fractures among patients treated at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

Methods

We recruited consenting patients with open tibial shaft fractures over a 3-month period and followed-up each participant for at least 2 years. The functional status of each enrolled patient was assessed at 2 years following injury, using Short Form 36.

Results

Over the 3-month inclusive period of the study, a total of 55 open fractures of the tibia and fibula diaphysis were recorded in 55 patients. Most (52.7%) had Gustillo-Anderson grade III injury. External fixation was the mode of stabilisation (65.5%) At 2 years, 51.9% (28 of 54) had excellent functional outcome. In total, 52.7% of the participants were able to use the affected limb as before the injury, and 92.6% (50 of 54) had returned to their previous work.

Conclusion

The outcome of open tibial shaft fractures at the study site is good-to-excellent in most (92.6%) patients, with a return-to-previous occupation rate of 92.6%. Gustillo-Anderson grade III injury was the most predominant (52.7%) and sub-type IIIB, the most common among the grade III injuries. External fixation was the most common mode of stabilization of open tibial diaphyseal fractures.

Author Biography

Samuel Frimpong Odoom, Child Health Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Institution: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)

Unit: Child Health Directorate

Rank: Research Officer

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Published

16-08-2024

How to Cite

Konadu-Yeboah, D., Okrah, H., Kusi, K., Konadu, P., Odoom, S. F., Sobotie, J., & Gudugbe, S. (2024). Management of Open Tibia Shaft Fractures in Ghana: A Prospective Longitudinal Study. African Journal of Current Medical Research, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v7i1.140

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Turning the corner

Section

Research

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Dominic Konadu-Yeboah, Helena Okrah, Kwasi Kusi, Peter Konadu, Samuel Frimpong Odoom, Johnny Sobotie, Senyo Gudugbe (Author)

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