Prevalence of lower extremity injuries in Mashhad: a 5-year study

Introduction: Injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Lower extremity injuries put a heavy burden on communities. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of lower extremity injuries in Mashhad, Iran. Method: The data from 57430 patients with lower extremity injuries collected from all traumatology hospitals in Mashhad were analyzed in this retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of lower extremity injuries in Mashhad, Iran between March 2011 and March 2015. Result: The prevalence of lower extremity injury in the general population of Mashhad was 0.34%. The mean age of the casualties was 33.7±19.8 years, and 77.9% were male. Knee and lower leg injuries had the highest frequency (61%). The mean hospitalization period was 7.7±12.6 days. The highest mortality rate (MR) (2%) and discharge against medical advice (DAMA) (11%) were observed in hip and thigh injuries. DAMA (8.8% vs. 6.7%, p<0.001) and MR (1.7% vs. 1.5%, P=0.005) was higher in females. However, the hospitalization period was longer in males (8±13) compared to females (6.8±10.1 days) (P<0.001). The prevalence rate was declining in during the study period. Conclusion: The declining trend of lower extremity injuries is promising. However, the higher mortality rate of females needs more attention. These findings can be used for better management of traumatic patients. Keywords: injury; lower extremity; prevalence