[The prevalance of orthopedic disabilities in the district of Cay, Afyon, Turkey].
OBJECTIVE
Data were collected on disabilities from a sample population in order to estimate the prevalence of orthopedic disabilities in the general population.


METHODS
A two-stage field study was conducted in Cay, a district of Afyon, Turkey. In the first stage, a list of all individuals with orthopedic disabilities was derived. Then, medical histories were elicited and examinations were made by a team of specialists of orthopedics and traumatology. Radiographic studies were made when necessary. Orthopedic disabilities were defined as any muscle or skeletal abnormality that was associated with a permanent functional loss and were classified as congenital, traumatic, cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, and other causes.


RESULTS
The overall population was 35,571, of whom 189 had orthopedic disabilities (53/10,000). The male-to-female ratio was 1.8. The most common cause was congenital diseases (25.9%; 13.7/10,000), followed by trauma (23.8%; 12.6/10,000), cerebral palsy (21.7%; 11.5/10,000), poliomyelitis (10.1%; 5.3/10,000), and others (18.5%; 9.8/10,000). The lowest mean age (19+/-5 years) was found in those with cerebral palsy, which was associated with the highest degree of functional loss. The mean age in patients with poliomyelitis was 29+/-7 years. It was found that 37% of the disabled could benefit from either a limited or extensive surgical intervention, and 9% could have significant improvement both in functional ability and life quality through physical therapy or the use of a prosthesis/orthosis. Only 18% were under the coverage of a health insurance, though.


CONCLUSIONS
The data of this study may throw some new light on the prevalence and implications of orthopedic disabilities in Turkey.
Maralcan
Gökhan
G
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology (Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dali, Medicine Faculty of Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey. gmaralcan@hotmail.com
Kuru
Ilhami
I
Aydin
Umit Yusuf
UY
Altinel
Levent
L
Bozan
Mehmet Eray
ME
Ellidokuz
Hülya
H
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology