Assessment of Functional Limitation and Associated Factors in Adults with Following Lower Limb Fractures, Gondar, Ethiopia in 2020: Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

Yihalem Belete, Gashaw Jember Belay, Tamiru Dugo, Moges Gashaw, Yihalem Belete, Gashaw Jember Belay, Tamiru Dugo, Moges Gashaw

Abstract

Background: Lower limb fractures account for approximately one-third of all fractures. Lower limb fracture complications are one of the major reasons for hospital stays and have high impact on rehabilitation services. Functional limitations with lower extremities fractures are related to decreased functional mobility, the need for long term use of assistive devices, lack of independence, and the long term need for assistive care. This study aimed to assess the functional limitation and identify the possible predictors among lower limb fracture patients by using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS).

Methods: A prospective institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 30/2020, at University of Gondar, comprehensive specialized hospital. The data of 226 participants were collected through face-to-face interviews, patient record review and by physical examination with simple random sampling techniques. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of functional limitation among lower limb fracture with SPSS 25. The strength of the association was present by adjusted odds ratios (OR).

Results: One hundred and eighty-two (n = 182 (80.5%): 95% CI (74.8 to 85.8) patients with following lower limb fracture have functional limitation. Level of education (AOR =5.50; 95% CI: 1.707-17.742), presence of hospitalized complication AOR=3.26; 95% CI (1.147-9.294), severity of pain AOR=3.19; 95% CI (1.399-7.259), duration of onset AOR=9.512; 95% CI (3.585-25.237), knee flexion limitation AOR=7.13; 95% CI (1.926-26.368) were the independent risk factors for functional limitation.

Conclusion: The magnitude of functional limitation in following lower limb fracture individual was considerably high in study setup. Level of education, presence of hospitalized complication, severity of pain, duration of onset, knee flexion limitation were the independent risk factors for functional limitation.

Keywords: fracture; functional limitation; lower limb; pain; range of motion.

Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest in this work.

© 2021 Belete et al.

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