Traditional Bone Setters and Their Relevance in the Present- Day Orthopaedic Care - A Manipur Experience

ABSTRACT

Background: Traditional bone setters (TBSs) occupy an important role in the management of musculoskeletal injuries in the societies of many developing countries and Manipur society is no exception to this. This study was conducted to evaluate the reasons for patronising TBSs and their relevance in modern society. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted during 2015-17 in a teaching medical college in Imphal, Manipur. Patients with fractures and dislocations attending the orthopaedic department after ‘treatment’ by TBSs were included in this study. They were evaluated clinically and radiologically for presence or absence of any complication. Appropriate treatment was provided to all the patients according to the hospital protocol. Results: There were 302 males and 150 females with maximum number of patients belonging to the age group 1-20 yrs. There were 320 closed fractures, 90 compound/open fractures and 42 dislocation cases. Upper limb was involved in 290 patients, lower limb in 110 patients and axial bones in 52 patients. Most of the patients were educated and most of them had a firm belief in traditional bone setting (TBS) system. Mal-union was the most common complication (53%) which was followed by non-union (13.2%). Conclusion: In spite of availability of state of the art modern orthopaedic care facilities in Imphal, Manipur the general population still used to continue to patronize TBS for any musculoskeletal injury as they have an age-old firm belief in this system of treatment (46.5%). Easy availability and affordability made their service all the more attractive to the people (23.5%). Educational status of the patient had no role in patronizing TBS. Perhaps it is high time the TBS are imparted basic training on bone and joint care in order to minimise the associated complications, in the line of training “dais” to “trained birth attendants”.