Mortality during road traffic accidents in Bangui, Central African Republic.

The authors examined mortality during road traffic accidents (RTAs) to propose solutions for their prevention. This descriptive prospective study took place over a 12-month period (June 1, 2011, to May 30, 2012) and included all fatalities from RTAs brought to selected hospitals. These RTA fatalities were studied in the morgues and selected sites. An autopsy was conducted for each victim to clarify the cause of death. An injury severity score (ISS) was also calculated for each victim. The data were analyzed with Epi-Info 2008. The study included 1283 victims of RTAs, 217 of whom died, for a lethality rate of 16.9%. Among the deceased, 116 died before reaching the hospital, for a prehospital lethality rate of 53.5%. The 101 remaining victims died in hospital, 68 of them in the emergency department before admission. Head trauma accounted for the largest proportion of deaths (57.6%), followed by the polytrauma (25.7%). Passengers in cargo trucks (39.3%) and motorcyclists (13.9%) were the most exposed to fatal accidents. For an ISS > 25, the mortality rate was 41.7%, and for an ISS > 40, 100%. Based on the ISS, most of these deaths could have been avoided. The urgent establishment of a public transportation system, improvement of transportation of RTA victims to hospitals, and an effective healthcare system could reduce this high mortality rate.

Les cals vicieux diaphysaires du fémur de l'adulte traités par ostéotomie et ostéosynthèse à ciel ouvert à Bangui (République centrafricaine)

Introduction: Les cals vicieux diaphysaires du fémur sont le plus souvent les complications du traitement traditionnel des fractures. Cette étude avait pour objectifs de préciser les formes anatomo-cliniques des lésions, décrire la technique utilisée, et évaluer les résultats obtenus.Matériel et méthodes. Cette étude prospective incluait tous les cals vicieux diaphysaires du fémur de l'adulte traités entre juin 2011 et mai 2015. Leur gravité de la déformation était classée selon des critères propres. Les résultats du traitement étaient évalués au recul minimum de 12 mois avec les critères de Thorensen.Résultats L'étude incluait 34 patients (28 hommes et 6 femmes) avec un âge moyen de 30 ans (16 et 65). Les patients ont consulté après un délai moyen de 7,6 mois (4 et 24). Les cals vicieux siégeaient au tiers supérieur (n=6), au tiers moyen (n=16) et au tiers inferieur (n=12). Le traitement initial des fractures était traditionnel (n=22), chirurgical (n=8)et orthopédique (n=4). Les motifs de consultation étaient mixtes associant boiterie à la marche et douleurs articulaires (n=17), douleur isolée (n=8), boiterie (n= 8). Un patient a consulté pour raison esthétique (n=1). Le raccourcissement du membre était en moyenne de 2,6 cm (2 à 4). L'angulation moyenne était de 26,7° (4 à 45°). La mobilité du genou était de 90,4° en moyenne (45 à 120°). Le délai moyen de réalisation de l'ostéotomie était de 7 mois (4 et 25) après le traumatisme. L'ostéotomie était faite après décortication ostéo musculaire selon Judet. Un enclouage avec clou de Kuntscher a été faite pour 29 fractures médiodiaphysaires. Une plaque vissée a été utilisée pour 5 fractures proximales et distales. Aucun patient n'a été perdu de vue. Nous n'avons noté ni fracture iatrogène, ni lésion vasculaire et/ou nerveuse. Aucune infection du site opératoire n'était notée. La mobilité moyenne post-opératoire du genou était de 124° (110 et 135). Au recul moyen de 21 mois les résultats selon les critères de Thorensen étaient bon (n=12) et moyen (n=22).Conclusion Les cals vicieux fémoraux avec un raccourcissement maximal de 4 cm et une angulation à 45° peuvent être corrigés à foyer ouvert en un temps opératoire après une décortication ostéomusculaire

[Traditional bonesetter's gangrene of limb in children in Regional Hospital of Kaolack (Senegal)]. / Gangrène de membre à la suite d'un traitement traditionnel de fractures par attelle en bambou chez l'enfant à l'Hôpital régional de Kaolack (Sénégal).

Little published data exist on the morbidity and mortality associated with poor trauma care in developing countries. This report highlights our experience with iatrogenic limb gangrene related to fracture management by traditional bonesetters. Children with bonesetter's gangrene were identified from a prospectively recorded paediatric surgery database at the Regional Hospital of Kaolack in Central Senegal. 21 children were treated for bonesetter's gangrene during a 18-month period (January 2007 up to June 2008). The average age was 10 years (range, 5 to 15 years). Bonesetter's gangrene was more common in boys (90.5%) and occurred almost exclusively in children from rural areas where access to health care was limited. 16 children underwent proximal extremity amputation. Complications included one case of tetanus. Bonesetter's gangrene is a preventable complication that results from a failure of child health planners to recognize the importance of basic trauma care. Management of fractures should be considered an essential component of child health programs in developing countries.

Femur malunion treated with open osteotomy and intramedullary nailing in developing countries.

INTRODUCTION: In developing countries, malunion, after diaphyseal femur fractures initially untreated by internal fixation, is not rare. Their difficult management contrasts with the deficiency of the technical operating room facilities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our prospective study, conducted over a 1-year period, reports 16 open osteotomies fixed using Küntscher intramedullary nailing in patients who presented malunion of the femoral diaphysis. Twelve males and four females (mean age, 34.5 years; range, 18-67 years) were managed with a mean time to surgery of 8 months (range, 4-14 months). All had initially consulted a bonesetter. The mean length inequality was 3 cm (range, 2-6 cm); the mean knee flexion limitation was 90° (range, 10°-120°). Locking of the rotation was obtained by the obliquity of the osteotomy line. No bone filling was added but reaming and decortications were systematic. The patients were clinically and radiographically assessed at D21, D45, D90, and D120, based on the evaluation of the length inequality, mobility, and bone union. Rotational malunion or deformity were not analyzed. RESULTS: Fifteen patients had achieved union in 90 days. In one case, secondary incurvation of the nail led to changing the nail, allowing union with no axis deformity at D120. The mean postoperative knee flexion was 120° (range, 45°-130°). The mean gain in length was 2 cm (range, 1.5-4 cm). DISCUSSION: This open technique using non-interlocking material allowed us to obtain bone union while improving joint mobility and length inequality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Retrospective study.

[Intramedullary pinning of the radius in acute Galeazzi's fractures in adults: 23 case reports]. / Embrochage centromédullaire du radius dans les fractures récentes de Galeazzi chez l'adulte : À propos de 23 cas.

OBJECTIFS: Consensual treatment of the Galeazzi's fracture is a plate osteosynthesis of the radius more or less associated to the confection of a plaster cast in distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ) dislocation. The authors are reporting in this study the clinical and functionnal results of the intra-medullary pinning of the radius in this type of fracture in adult. METHODS: During a prospective study from January 2003 to December 2006, 23 patients (20 men and three women), average-aged of 32 years (16-70 years) presenting with a Galeazzi's fracture were treated by an intra-medullary pinning of the radius. The DRUJ dislocations were locked 17 times by a brachio-ante-brachio-palmar plaster cast in the supination position, and six times by an ulno-radial pinning. Only the 16 over-aged patients presenting with closed recent fractures were included in this study. The DRUJ dislocation was ranked according to Mansat, the radial fracture according to Müller (AO). The assessment of the treatment results used Mestdagh's criteria. In this study, each pseudarthrosis of the radius was considered as a failure. RESULTS: The DRUJ dislocation was reparted into six sprains, eight subdislocations, and three Galeazzi's fracture equivalents. The radius fractures were simple (n=20) or wedge fractures (n=3). These fractures were located at the proximal third (n=13), middle third (n=7) and distal third (n=3). The average consolidation delay was 10 weeks (8 to16 weeks). Two pseudarthrosis have been observed and then treated by a plate osteosynthesis. At the mean follow up of 37 months (18 to 41 months), the mean score according to Mestdagh was 7.8 points, with 20 satisfying results. Nineteen patients were satisfied by their treatment; the reasons were: the esthetic care of their scar, and the good functionnal resumption, as well as before the fracture. CONCLUSION: The intra-medullary pinning of radius in Galeazzi's fractures, in contrary to the previous studies, give good results compared to a plate osteosynthesis treatment. The systematic complementary lock by brachio-ante-brachio-palmar plaster cast during 3 to 4 weeks has balanced the stability defect that Mikic was reproaching to it. Moreover, it confers the benefits of elastic closed osteosynthesis. That less simple and less expensive method represents an alternative to a plate osteosynthesis in Galeazzi's fractures in adult, if it is well standardized.