FREQUENCY OF COMPLICATIONS AMONG TRAUMA PATIENTS TREATED BY TRADITIONAL BONE SETTERS

Main Article Content

Sardar Sohail Afsar
Muhammad Gulzar khan
Yaqoob Ur Rehman

Keywords

Frequency, Complications, Trauma, Traditional bone setters

Abstract

Background: Traditional bone setter's (TBS) treatment is skill and due to lack of public attention and non-availability of modern facilities has survived more than 3,000 years. Traditional bone-setters also having a support of all classes of our community from the illiterate to the extremely knowledgeable society. In most communities, there is a general conviction that TBS is better than Orthopaedic practitioners in fractural treatment.


Objective: This study was done to determine the frequency of complications among trauma patients treated by traditional bone setters


Materials and methods: This cross sectional multi-centre study was conducted at Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Qazi Hussain Ahmed Medical complex nowshera and other private medical centers of Peshawar Pakistan, from November 2021 to December 2022. All the patients who presented with mismanagement done by quacks in Orthopaedic outdoor clinic were recruited for the study from November 2021 to December 2022. Their age, gender, type and site of injury, type of TBS management and its complication were recorded in a predesigned proforma. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 software.


Results: In the current study, a total of 100 patients were enrolled. There were 75 (75%) males and 25 (25%) female patients in our study. Based on methods of treatment, 72 (72%) were treated by sticks and bandages, 25 (25%) were treated by tight bandages while only 3 (3%) patients were treated by massage. Based on the complications, 25 (25%) patients has joint stiffness, 18 (18%) has developed Volkmann's Ischaemic Contracture, 16 (16%) patients developed gross swelling of the limb and 13 (13%) patients has skin necrosis.


Conclusion: Our study revealed that the management of trauma patients by traditional bone setters, primarily due to their limited expertise, often results in grave complications.

Abstract 13 | Pdf Downloads 4

References

1. Agarwal A, Agarwal R. The practice and tradition of bonesetting. Educ Health(Abingdon). 2010; 23 (1): 225.
2. Abang IE, Asuquo J, Ngim NE, Ikpeme IA, Agweye P, Urom SE, et al. Reasons for patronage of traditional bone setters. Niger J Surg. 2016; 22 (2): 102-6. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.188993.
3. Green SA. Orthopaedic surgeons, inheritors of tradition. Clin Orthop Relat Res.1999; 363: 258- 263.
4. Khan I, Saeed M, Inam M, Arif M. Traditional bone setters; preference and patronage. Professional Med J. 2015; 22(9): 1181-85. doi:10.17957/
TPMJ/15. 2944.
5. Bhatti A. Broken bones and bone setters. Medical Channel. 2010; 16(1): 7-9.
6. Chiyere N, Oyefara J. Influence of Sociocultural factors on the health seeking behaviour of patients with bone fracture in Lagos State, Nigeria. Afr J Psychol Stud Soc Issues. 2018; 21 (1): 1-20.
7. Owumi BE, Taiwo P, Olorunnisola A. Utilization of traditional bone-setters in the treatment of bone fracture in Ibadan North Local Government. IJHSSI. 2013; 2(5): 47-57.
8. Ogunlusi J, Okem I, Oginni L. Why patients patronize traditional bone setters. Internet J Orthop Surg. 2007; 4(2): 1-7.
9. Eshete M. The prevention of the traditional bone setter's gangrene. J Bone Joint Surg. 2005; 87(1): 102-3.
10. OlaOlorun DA, Oladiran IO, Adeniran A. Complications of fracture treatment by traditional bonesetters in southwest Nigeria. Fam Pract. 2001;18(6):635–637.
11. Dada A, Giwa SO, Yinusa W, Ugbeye M, Gbadegesin S. Complications of treatment of musculoskeletal injuries by bone setters. West Afr J Med. 2009;28(1):43–47.
12. Chika AT, Onyekwelu J. Traditional bone setters' gangrene: An avoidable catastrophe, 8 years retrospective review in a private orthopedic and trauma center in South-East Nigeria. Niger J Gen Pract 2016;14:1-5.
13. Onyemaechi, N. O., Lasebikan, O. A., Elachi, I. C., Popoola, S. O., & Oluwadiya, K. S. Patronage of traditional bonesetters in Makurdi, north-central Nigeria. Patient Preference and Adherence,2015:9:275–279. http://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S76877.
14. Ekere AU, Echem RC. Complications of fracture and dislocation treatment by traditional bone setters: A private practice experience. Nigerian Health Journal. 2011; 11(2):59-66.
15. Tantray, M., Masood, Q., Mushtaq, Q., Baba, A., Kotwal, H., Waris, Q., Tahir, T., Mokhdomi, T. Orthopedic trauma care by Traditional Bone Setters in developing nations: An observational hospital study from Kashmir. International Journal of Current Trends in Science and Technology.2018:[Online] 8:02.
16. Eshete M1. The prevention of traditional bone setter's gangrene. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005 Jan;87(1):102-3
17. Solomon L, Warwick D, Nayagam S. Apley's system of orthopaedics and fractures, 8th edition. London: Arnold.2001
18. Ikpeme IA, Udosen AM, Okereke-Okpa I. Patients'perception of traditional bone setting in Calabar. Port Harcourt Med J 2007; 1: 104-108.