Missed orthopaedic injuries in trauma patients at a rural tertiary trauma centre

Journal Title: Indian Journal of Orthopaedics Surgery - Year 2017, Vol 3, Issue 1

Abstract

Missed injuries is defined as an injury found after the initial complete patient assessment and diagnostic studies that was directly related to the traumatic event and was identified after first 24 hours following admission. Even though not frequently life-threatening, they may result in significant long-term disability. The aim of this study was to define the incidence of missed orthopaedic injury for adult major trauma patients and to examine the details of missed injuries in order to identify and make comment on potential risk factors for missed injury. 671 admissions in orthopaedics indoor patients in a rural tertiary care centre for the period of 10 months from 1st January 2016 to 31st October 2016 were included for study. 18 patients were identified with delayed diagnoses of the injury. Patients with a decreased level of consciousness or head injury, with intubation/sedation or with alcohol or drug intoxication are unable to give a good history, cooperate with physical exam or identify sources of pain are the main risk factors for missed injuries. Other factors for missing an injury include Inadequate Clinical Assessment, Misinterpretation of Studies and Late Presentation of Observable Findings. Repeated assessments, both clinical and radiological, are mandatory to diminish this problem. In initial evaluation, one still has to treat the greatest threat to life before complete diagnosis of all injuries, but alertness to evolving injuries must remain in mind throughout the patient’s hospital stay.

Authors and Affiliations

Madhukar KT, Harsh Tiwari, Cheemala Vikram

Keywords

Related Articles

Multiple gouty tophi over hands-A Case Report

Gout is derived from gutta (Latin for drop), as it was believed in the 13th century that poison falling in drops into the affected joint caused gout. But, Gout is actually result of inflammatory response to deposition of...

Inadvertent surgeries for patients with haemophilia - Emergent need for creating awareness

are for MSK related complications. Often PwH have their initial presentation to orthopedicians with joint swelling even prior to bleeding from any other sites. Yet, haemophilia is an under-recognized entity among orthope...

A prospective study of functional outcome of treatment of supracondylar fracture of femur by locking compression plate

Aim To evaluate the functional outcome of supracondylar femur fracture treated by locking compression plateMaterials and Methods Our study consists of 20 cases of supracondylar femur fracture operated at Sanjay Gandhi in...

Bipolar arthroplasty in highly comminuted intertrochanteric fractures

A hip fracture represents a disturbing and potentially ominous land mark in personal health history. For the health care system and to society in general, intertrochanteric fractures represent an epidemic disease. The pr...

Functional outcomes of the stable elastic intramedullary nailing for the fractures of femur in children

In current scenario, various operative procedures such as submuscular plating, spica casting, external fixation, intramedullary nailing etc available for children having femoral shaft fractures. We aimed to use titanium...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP293244
  • DOI 10.18231/2395-1362.2017.0012
  • Views 91
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Madhukar KT, Harsh Tiwari, Cheemala Vikram (2017). Missed orthopaedic injuries in trauma patients at a rural tertiary trauma centre. Indian Journal of Orthopaedics Surgery, 3(1), 59-61. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-293244