There is a great variety of orthopaedic conditions presenting to a large hospital in Sierra Leone: a 3-year prospective study

PURPOSE: In Sierra Leone there is a large void in orthopaedic research into the type of orthopaedic injuries, both acute and chronic. Improved data collection is essential in providing insight to guide health care planning and research. This study aims to outline the types of orthopaedic injury sustained. METHOD: Data were prospectively collected by local surgeons in the Orthopaedic outpatient department at a large hospital between January 2016 and January 2019. RESULTS: The orthopaedic department saw a mean 728 patients per year, with mean age 24.0 years. The workload comprised of 64.92% acute orthopaedic conditions or their complications, with 35.08% elective orthopaedics. Fractures made up the largest proportion of clinical appointments, annually 244.33 fractures; however there was a high incidence of osteomyelitis. CONCLUSION: The study gives an important insight into the types and distribution of elective and trauma orthopaedic injuries sustained in Sierra Leone, which has not been previously reported, and highlights key areas where resources may be focused in order to improve clinical outcomes.