Evaluation of Missed Cases of Fractures and Soft Tissue Injuries in Patients with Multiple Trauma in a Teaching Trauma Centre within 6 Months

Delays in diagnosing musculoskeletal injuries in patients who have suffered polytraumas can lead to long-term functional and aesthetic disorders. This study investigates the undiagnosed cases of fractures and soft tissue damage in multiple trauma patients in a teaching trauma centre within 6 months.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on polytraumas patients referred to a teaching trauma centre within 6 months.

In 339 polytrauma patients, 21(6.2%) had undiagnosed injuries: 15 (71.4%) men and 6 (28.6%) women with mean age of 39.3 ± 8.5 years (11 to 82 years) were studied. The average duration of hospitalization for undiagnosed fractures and soft tissue injuries in polytraumas patients was 4.4 ± 2.3 days. The most common sites of undiagnosed injuries were the clavicle (22.2%), followed by metacarpal and femoral neck (16.7%), acetabulum and intertrochanteric (11.1%), and distal fibular fractures (8.3%).

Late diagnosis of fractures in trauma hospitals is not uncommon, Middle age of 40-60 years and clavicular and femoral neck fractures are important and common ones to remember.