Outcome of treatment of the mismanaged pediatric elbow trauma: a series of 73 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the outcome of the management of pediatric elbow trauma referred to our hospital after initial intervention by traditional bone setters.


METHODS
Retrospective study of 73 patients, presenting to the hospital with a complication attributable to the initial mismanagement of their injuries.


RESULTS
The mode of presentation was directly related to the type of initial intervention on the basis of which we were able to quantify bone setters into two groups. The first group using a rather rough method of trauma treatment involving the application of tight local bandages, massage and manipulation and a second group having a relatively less rough approach, applying splints to the injured extremity without tight bandages and manipulation. The result of treatment of these injuries was determined by the delay in presentation and the type of injury.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the importance of dealing with the unchecked and unsupervised practice of bone setting in the developing world. We believe that training these people on the pattern of traditional birth attendants can at the very least lower the occurrence, if not entirely eliminate the problem of mismanaged trauma in this part of the world.
Butt
Mohammad Farooq
MF
Government Hospital for Bone and Joint Surgery, Srinagar, Kashmir, India. mfbutt@yahoo.co.in
Kawoosa
Altaf A
AA
Dhar
Shabir Ahmad
SA
Farooq
Munir
M
Mir
Mohammad Ramzan
MR
Zargar
Haroon Rashid
HR
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000628:therapy; D007194:India; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000628:therapy; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000628:therapy; D000092464:Elbow Injuries