Fracture is a common cause ofinjuries to lower extremities. It is clinically assumed that younger and male patients have better outcome following acute care rehabilitation of lower limb fractures. This study was therefore carried out to investigate pattern and outcome oj acute care rehabilitation of lower limb fractures. All cases of unilateral lower limb fractures referred for physiotherapy at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria between November, 2001 and OCtober 2006 were reviewed. Information on personal and clinical characteristics relating to acute care rehabilitation was retrieved from their case files. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 197 patients of male to female ratio 2.3:1 with mean age 38.7± 17. 77years were reviewed. Majority (48.2%) were aged 20-39 years. Majority ofthe patients (74.6%) under review were involved in road traffic accident with a half of them (51. 3%) sustaining fracture of femur. A large proportion of patients (47. 7%) under review were managed non operatively. More than half of these patients (67.8%) completed their ambulation training with axillary crutches within three physiotherapy sessions with 148(75.1 %) patients discharged satisfactorily with either axillary crutches or walking frame. Outcome of ambulation training was found to be associated with age (p=0.03) but was neither associated with gender (p=0.12) nor methods of reduction offractures (p=0.3l). Age is a significant determinant of outcome of rehabilitation of fractures of lower extremities. In other words, the younger a patient with lower limb fracture is, the better the outcome of acute care rehabilitation.

 

Key words: Lower limb fractures, rehabilitation outcome