A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO DETERMINE THE KNEE JOINT FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH FEMUR SHAFT FRACTURES MANAGED OPERATIVELY OR CONSEVATELY AT NDOLA HOSPITAL:complete enumeration (Preprint)

BACKGROUND According to WHO, It has been reported that there has been a rise in road traffic accidents globally due to many factors. Consequently this has contributed to an increase in fracture of the femur in hospitals. The annual incidence of these Fractures has been estimated to be 10 per 100,000 persons and this incidence has been noticed to be higher among the youths decreasing after the age of 40 and then increasing in the elderly. These fractures are either managed conservatively or operatively. OBJECTIVE the aim of this study was to determine if there is a significant difference in knee joint functional outcome in patients with femur shaft fractures managed operatively and conservatively at Ndola Teaching Hospital at the orthopedics clinic and physiotherapy. This in future might help to place emphasis on government to sensitize the right measures needed to improve on the functional outcome of a knee joint in patients with femur fracture who are treated operatively or conservatively METHODS the method used for the study was a complete enumeration of all patients with femur fractures that were admitted at orthopedic ward, visited the orthopedic clinic and physiotherapy sessions at NTH between the period of July 2019 to September 2019. Data collected will be analyzed using a statistical data software called Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). The independent variable that will be considered in the study are age, DOI, DOA, femur shaft fractures, treatment and others that that will meet the selection Criteria. The dependent variable will be “Knee Joint Functional Outcome”. RESULTS Results did not show statistically significant difference in knee functional outcome for two methods (conservative or operative). In the current study it was noted that there was much reduction in swelling in the operative in comparison to the conservative group. We may therefore conclude that the operative management promises a better outcome especially when done on time. However it seemed the operative procedure was not preferred for any conservative approach however the study has shown an in depth feasibility study to affirm such findings in order to inform on policy or management paradigim shift. CONCLUSIONS There is need for further intervention in the management of femur fracture which complicates to poor knee joint function