@article{ref1,
title="Epidemiology and treatment of distal radius fractures at four public hospitals in Malawi",
journal="Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: global research and reviews",
year="2024",
author="Dworkin, Myles and Harrison, William James and Chidothi, Paul and Mbowuwa, Foster and Martin, Claude Jr and Agarwal-Harding, Kiran and Chokotho, Linda",
volume="8",
number="4",
pages="-",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Little is known about the burden or management of distal radius fractures (DRFs) in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to describe the care of DRFs in Malawi. <br><br>METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a registry of all patients with fractures who presented to the orthopaedic departments at four public hospitals in Malawi. <br><br>RESULTS: Totally, 1,440 patients (14.5%) were with a DRF. Average age was 40, and 888 (62.0%) were male. Surgery was done for 122 patients (9.5%). Patients presenting to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, patients presenting after a fall, and patients initially evaluated by an orthopaedic registrar or orthopaedic clinical officer had lower odds of receiving surgical treatment. Meanwhile, open injuries had the greatest odds of receiving surgery. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The most common musculoskeletal injury among patients in the Malawi Fracture Registry was fractures of the distal radius. These most affected young adult male patients may benefit from surgery; however, the majority were managed nonsurgically. Lack of access to surgical fixation and conservative follow-up may have long-term functional consequences in a predominantly agrarian society. Outcomes-based research is needed to help guide management decisions and standardize patient care and referral protocols.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2474-7661",
doi="10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-23-00282",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-23-00282"
}