Epidemiology of foot injury in a high-income developing country.
OBJECTIVE
To study the epidemiology of foot injuries and factors predicting their severity in a high-income developing country so as to define prevention priorities.


METHODS
All patients admitted to Al-Ain Hospital with foot injury between March 2003 and March 2006 were identified from a prospectively collected Trauma Registry. Injuries were scored using foot and ankle severity scale (FASS). Bilateral, multiple or segmental injuries, open fractures or those with FASS score higher than 3 were included in severe foot injury group and compared with simple foot injury group regarding patients' demography, co-morbidities, trauma mechanism and energy, incident location, number of associated injuries, Injury Severity Score (ISS) and hospital stay using a univariate analysis. A logistic regression model was then used to study factors predicting severity of foot injury.


RESULTS
171 patients (156 males) were studied. The average (range) age was 34 (2-75). 95 had right foot injury, 66 had left, and 10 had both. Fall from height was the most common mechanism. 105 (61%) had work-related injuries. 130 (76%) had isolated foot injury. 151 (88%) had 212 foot fractures. 20 (12%) had soft tissue injuries. 70 (41%) had severe injuries while 101 (59%) had simple ones. The multiple logistic model was highly significant (p=0.002). Number of associated injuries (p=0.025) and location of trauma (p=0.044) were significant while the amount of energy (p=0.054) showed a strong trend to predict severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Fall from height is the most common mechanism of foot injury in United Arab Emirates. The number of associated injuries, high-energy trauma, and being work related are predictors of foot injury severity. Prevention priorities include counteractions against falling from height and falling heavy objects as occupational hazards.
Tadros
Ayman M A
AM
Orthopedic Trauma Fellow, Orthopaedic Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada. amatadros@yahoo.com
Eid
Hani O
HO
Abu-Zidan
Fikri M
FM
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007221:Industry; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult