Lower Limb Disabilities Following Motorcyle Crashes

Background: Lower limb disabilities are the commonest disability resulting from motorcycle crashes and are usually caused by amputation, fracture, post traumatic arthritis and joint stiffness. The objective of this study was to assess the nature and severity of lower limb disability resulting from motorcycle crashes.Methodology: All victims of motorcycle accident with lower limb injuries who were treated at NKST Rehabilitation Hospital from 1st May, 2009 to 30th April, 2010 were included in the study. History and physical  examination was done to determine the site, nature and characteristics of the injuries. Functional outcomes were assessed with the use of physical and mental health sub score of short form 12 (SF-12) which was administered at 12 month of follow up.Results: One hundred and sixty eight (168) patient out of two hundred and eight four (284) motorcycle accident victims presented with lower limb injuries. Male: female ratio was 2:1 with mean age of 42.5 years. 70.7 percent of the injuries were fractures, 14.3 percent were dislocation/sublimation, 10.7 percent were laceration/abrasions, 2.9 percent were traumatic amputation and 1.4 represented sprains/strain. The commonest complication after treatment was joint stiffness (21.4%) followed by malunion (7.1%), wound infection (5.0%), joint deformity (3.6%), limb length discrepancy (2.9%) and non union (1.4%). 45.6% of patients at 12th month of follow up had physical impairment while only 23.8 percent of them had psychosocial impairment.Conclusion: Physical disability with mechanical impairment is a common problem among motorcycle accident victims with lower limb injuries