Vol. 8, Issue 8, Part D (2022)

Introduction: Prevention of infection remains the critical goals in open fracture treatment. This study reports the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutics features at Lubumbashi teaching hospital.

Methods: the study covers a three-year period, including retrospective study from January 2018 to December 2020. Data collection was performed through a standardized survey form included many parameters.

Results: 44 cases of open leg fractures were registered in 42 patients, this represented 2.46% in orthopedics and traumatology department and 5.92% in surgery. The most common age brackets were 20- 29 years (65.91%). The mean age (33.41years) ranging from 8 to 80 years. Males accounted for 73.80% with a ratio sex M/F of 2.81. The most common etiology was traffic accidents (88.64%). Mostly the mechanism was direct (81.82%); 73.80% of patients arrived within 6 hours. Clinical sign mostly represented were deformation of the leg (95.46%). Most of fracture was classified in Cauchoix 2 (45.45%) with head injury like most associated injury (34.10%). Radiologically, the fracture line through the bone was oblique in 38.64% of cases and transverse in 29.55%.

38.64 % of open leg fractures occur in the middle third of the bone in our study. Definitive treatment consisting in putting a plaster window (18.18%) and external fixation (40.90% of cases).

Conclusion: open leg fracture is an almost daily practice which the management must be delicate.

Mots clés: fracture ouverte – jambe – épidémiologie - prise en charge.