Occupational-Seasonal Spine and Other Orthopaedic Injuries due to Fall from Java Plum Tree
Khurram Bashir Dhudra, Zia-ur-Rehman, Ammar Dogar, Mohammad Omer Aziz, Malik Ahsan Atta, Hizbullah Riaz Ansari, Amer Aziz
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ABSTRACT
Background: Falling from a Java Plum (Jamun) tree is one of the primary causes of
Spine and other extremity fractures during the Monsoon season (when it is
harvested) in Pakistan.
Objective:
To assess the distribution of
patients with different facture types presented with the history of fall from
Jamun tree during Monsoon season.
Study
Design: Retrospective
study
Place
and Duration of Study:
Department of Orthopaedics & Spine Surgery, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital,
Lahore 1st May 2020 to 31st August 2020,
Methodology:
Forty two male patients age ranged from 12-55 years of age were
enrolled. Information was obtained from the hospital’s trauma registry,
and medical records were retrospectively reviewed for data about the type of
fractures, occupational status, pre-hospital immobilization, time of
presentation, and the time between fall and management and length of hospital
stay were reviewed.
Results: The average age of the patient was 34.6 years. Twenty
four (57.14%) had spine fractures and 18 (42.8%) suffered other axial and
skeletal fractures. Nearly three-fourths needed surgical intervention. In
contrast, 26.1 % were managed conservatively.
Conclusion:
During monsoon season, we
received 4.6% of extra patients with different injuries following fall from
Jamun tree. In most cases, young men from lower socio-economic status suffer
from varying degrees of disability and experience financial problems.
Keywords:
Fall, Java Plum, Mass awareness,
Occupational-seasonal injury, Spine fractures