Injuries to the musculoskeletal system due to domestic accidents: Socio-demographic, lesional and therapeutic aspects

Abstract

Introduction: Injuries due to domestic accidents have become a real public health problem that is often neglected in countries south of the Sahara. The objectives were to describe the characteristics of the accidents, the socio-demographic and lesion profile of the victims, and to evaluate the therapeutic management. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study over a period from January to December 2018, including all patients with domestic accidents received at the Orthopedics-Traumatology Department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar. Results: We collected 890 cases over one year, i.e., 24.47% of admissions with a sex ratio of 0.64. The mean age of our patients was 44.6 years with extremes of 9 and 95 years. The patients lived in Dakar-City in 61% of cases. Between 6 am and 6 pm, the time slot was 32.58% and 39.55% between 12 and 6 pm. Patients were admitted on weekdays (15.55%) and weekends (9.32%). Falls accounted for 39.7% of the accidents recorded. Fractures were found in 39.77%. The injuries were located in the pelvic limbs in 57%, the thoracic limbs in 33.26%, the trunk in 7.19%, and the head in 2.55% of cases. Of the patients who were received beyond the first 24 hours after the trauma in 44.27%. Most were brought to the emergency room by taxi 57% and only 1.07% by ambulance. The treatment was orthopedic in 38.2%, medical alone in 36.63%, and surgical in 25.16%. The patients were treated and followed in an ambulatory in 73.03%. Conclusion: Domestic accidents are important in admissions to Orthopedic and Traumatology emergencies. Measures must be undertaken for both diagnostic and therapeutic management.