title: Prevalence and outcome of paediatric and adolescent limb fractures in rural Zambia.
abstract: Little is known about the prevalence and outcome of paediatric limb fractures in rural African children. The objective of our study was to assess the prevalence and outcome of paediatric and adolescent limb fractures in this population. We performed a retrospective population survey of 355 secondary school students with a mean age of 16.9 years in Katete, Zambia. Fracture type and cause were assessed using anamnestic data and physical examination. In the surveyed group 52 students (29 male, 23 female) sustained 56 fractures. We found a fracture prevalence rate of 15-19% in male and 11% in female students. The most common fracture was that of the wrist (39%). Forty-eight fractures (86%) were treated in a general hospital, and 4 (7%) in rural health centres. Only 4 students with a fracture (7%) did not receive medical treatment at all. Sport was the most common cause of fractures in the surveyed group (41%). Of all fractures, 25% led to significant impairment.
authors.affiliation: St Francis' Hospital, Katete, Zambia.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Krabbe
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Phiri
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Heiji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology