Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Fracture of lower extremity is life treating because of excessive bleeding and
associated soft tissue injury. Survivors are prone for life long functional impairment, like: limited
range of motion, weakness, pain, impaired weight bearing status and limited independence of
activity of daily living. Later patients faced in ability to perform a socially defined roles and tasks
within a sociocultural and physical environment. Even though the magnitude and cause of lower
limb fracture was studied, no study explored functional limitations and associated factors in
Ethiopia ,which is a gap to be filled as soon as possible because developing countries like
Ethiopia can’t afford further burden of disability.
Objective: To determine burden of functional limitations and associated factors of patients with
lower limb fracture.
Methods: Institutional cross-sectional study was conducted among 226 patients with lower limb
fracture in orthopedics outpatient department with a convenient non probability sampling
technique. Data collection was conducted by face to face interview using a semi structured
questionnaire adopted from different studies, lower extremity functional scale questionnaire,
chart review and objective measurements, range of motion using plastic goniometer, height by
stadiometer, weight by weight scale and pain by visual analog scale. Data was entered in EPI
info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 25 using logistic regression model and chisquare(X
2
) and significant p <0.05.
Result: The overall level of functional limitation was 42.3 %( 39.31-45.33). Level of education
(OR: 5.503, 95%CI 1.707-17.742), complication during hospitalization (OR 3.264, 95%CI
1.147-9.294), pain in visual analog scale (OR: 3.186, 95%CI 1.399-7.259), knee flexion and
ankle planter flexion (OR: 4.379 95%CI 1.071-17.889) and 6.785 95%CI 2.129-21.794)
respectively were significantly associated with limited functional activity.
Conclusion: This study found that majority of the participants were with limited functional
activity and patients with below knee fracture and duration of hospitalization more than four
week were more functionally limited. The associated factors were, low level of education,
complication during hospitalization, pain, decreased range of knee flexion and ankle planter
flexion.
Recommendation: physiotherapists shall provide in patient physiotherapy, Orthopedician shall
consult to physiotherapist. Ministry of health and hospital managers shall expand rehabilitation
department. Duration of hospitalization better to be reduced.
Key words: functional limitation, lower limb fracture, adult, Gondar, Ethiopia
