Epidemiology of fractures in patients from small towns in Ceará treated by the SUS.
OBJECTIVE
To scientifically prove the high number of patients with fractures coming from the small towns of the State of Ceará treated with surgery by the SUS (the Brazilian State healthcare system) in Fortaleza.


METHODS
A transversal, prospective, descriptive study was carried out involving 1694 patients treated by the SUS in Fortaleza, from August 2006 to March 2007, in four public hospitals and three private hospitals.


RESULTS
38.78% of the patients came from small towns, and their ages ranged from 1 to 97 years old. The majority were single, male adults. The most common mechanism of injury was traffic accidents, accounting for 30.4% of all the cases. The forearm was the body segment most operated on, corresponding to 19%.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest there is a need for preventive measures, such as public traffic safety awareness campaigns, in order to reduce accidents. We have also verified the importance of investments aimed at developing the Traumatology Emergency services in the small towns of Ceará. Level of evidence II, Transversal, Prospective Study (Lower quality prospective study).
School of Medicine of Universidade Federal do Ceará
Ana Lívia Monte
AL
de Albuquerque
School of Medicine of Universidade Federal do Ceará
Pedro Guilme Teixeira
PG
de Sousa Filho
School of Medicine of Universidade Federal do Ceará
Manuel Bomfim
MB
Braga Junior
School of Medicine of Universidade Federal do Ceará
José de Sá
Jde S
Cavalcante Neto
School of Medicine of Universidade Federal do Ceará
Bárbara Bianca Linhares
BB
de Medeiros
School of Medicine of Universidade Federal do Ceará
Marcio Bezerra Gadelha
MB
Lopes
Epidemiology; Fractures, bone; Orthopedics; Trauma centers