dc.contributor.author |
Masters, J.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Laubscher, Maritz
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Graham, Simon Matthew
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|
dc.contributor.author |
Marais, L.
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|
dc.contributor.author |
Ferreira, Nando
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|
dc.contributor.author |
Held, Michael
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|
dc.contributor.author |
Viljoen, Jaco
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|
dc.contributor.author |
Pillay, T.
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|
dc.contributor.author |
Maqungo, Sithombo
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|
dc.contributor.author |
Costa, M.
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|
dc.date.accessioned |
2022-02-28T09:37:35Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2022-02-28T09:37:35Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2021-07 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
BACKGROUND : South Africa (SA) has one of the highest gun-related mortality rates in the world – 20 people per day. The available data, however, do not reflect the substantial number of patients suffering non-lethal firearm injuries. Gunshot-related injury has been recognised as a highly costly healthcare problem by individual treating centres in SA and other countries; however, no ‘national picture’ has been examined in detail.
OBJECTIVES : To explore the burden of gunshot-related orthopaedic injuries across SA.
METHODS : A multicentre research network was established in SA, and 37 orthopaedic units across 9 provinces participated. A prospective, observational cohort study was performed during a 2-week period in 2019. Patients were screened, enrolled and reported by local orthopaedic teams. Patients were included if they had at least one acute gunshot-related orthopaedic fracture referred to the orthopaedic service. Patients were asked additional questions around baseline health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) and personal circumstances. Follow-up was at 8 weeks after injury.
RESULTS : Thirty-seven centres enrolled 135 patients over the 2-week study period. Western Cape Province had the highest number of reported cases (n=52; 39%), followed by Gauteng (n=35; 26%) and KwaZulu-Natal (n=29; 21%). The median age of patients was 30.5 years and the majority were male (89%). Forty-three percent of patients had been either shot or stabbed prior to this injury. Fifty-two percent of all patients required fracture fixation surgery and 11% required wound debridement without fracture fixation. HRQOL data were collected successfully at baseline, but follow-up data were available for <25% of cases.
CONCLUSIONS : Gunshot-related orthopaedic injuries represent a significant burden of disease in the SA healthcare environment. This study highlights several areas for further research in the management of the injuries and associated outcomes. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Orthopaedic Surgery |
en_ZA |
dc.description.librarian |
hj2022 |
en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship |
The Newton International/RCUK
University of Oxford/University of Cape Town PhD exchange programme
and the South African Orthopaedic Association. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.uri |
http://www.samj.org.za |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation |
Masters, J., Laubscher, M.,Graham, S. et al. 2021, 'The gunshot-related injuries in trauma (GRIT) study : a profile of patients affected by gunshot-related orthopaedic injuries across South Africa', South African Medical Journal, vol. 111, no. 7, pp. 655-660. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn |
0256-9574 (print) |
|
dc.identifier.issn |
2078-5135 (online) |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i7.15236 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84261 |
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dc.language.iso |
en |
en_ZA |
dc.publisher |
Health and Medical Publishing Group |
en_ZA |
dc.rights |
This open-access article is distributed under
Creative Commons licence CC-BY-NC 4.0. |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Gunshot-related injuries in trauma (GRIT) |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Orthopaedic injuries |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
South Africa (SA) |
en_ZA |
dc.title |
The gunshot-related injuries in trauma (GRIT) study : a profile of patients affected by gunshot-related orthopaedic injuries across South Africa |
en_ZA |
dc.type |
Article |
en_ZA |