Analysing outcomes through orthopaedic trauma registry - A prospective cohort study

Area of Science:

• Trauma surgery
• Orthopedic research
• Injury epidemiology

Background:

• Limb trauma presents a significant public health challenge.
• Effective management requires comprehensive injury-specific data.
• Existing data collection methods may have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a prospective registry for limb trauma.
• To systematically record injury-specific data.
• To identify care gaps and improve patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study at Aga Khan University Hospital (June 2015-July 2018).
• Data collection from medical records for limb injuries, focusing on tibia shaft fractures.
• Assessment of functional, clinical, and radiological outcomes using validated injury-specific scores.

Main Results:

• 825 limb injuries in 763 patients; 62.4% lower limb, 37.6% upper limb.
• Surgical management for 89.9% of injuries.
• For tibia shaft fractures, 1-year follow-up showed 92% excellent-to-good results with intramedullary nailing versus 78% with open reduction and internal fixation.

Conclusions:

• A trauma registry is crucial for developing preventive strategies.
• Data-driven insights can refine management protocols for limb injuries.
• Intramedullary nailing demonstrates superior outcomes for tibia shaft fractures.