Survey of awareness and attitudes to the management of fragility fractures among the membership of the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association.

A survey of awareness and attitudes to the management of fragility fractures among the membership of the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association conducted in 2022 found considerable variation in care across the region. A Call to Action is proposed to improve acute care, rehabilitation and secondary fracture prevention across Asia Pacific. PURPOSE: Fragility fractures impose a substantial burden on older people and their families, healthcare systems and national economies. The current incidence of hip and other fragility fractures across the Asia Pacific region is enormous and set to escalate rapidly in the coming decades. This publication describes findings of a survey of awareness and attitudes to the management of fragility fractures among the membership of the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association (APOA) conducted in 2022. METHODS: The survey was developed as a collaboration between the Asia Pacific Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Society and the Asia Pacific Fragility Fracture Alliance, and included questions relating to aspects of care upon presentation, during surgery and mobilisation, secondary fracture prevention, and access to specific services. RESULTS: In total, 521 APOA members completed the survey and marked variation in delivery of care was evident. Notable findings included: Fifty-nine percent of respondents indicated that analgesia was routinely initiated in transit (by paramedics) or within 30 minutes of arrival in the Emergency Department. One-quarter of respondents stated that more than 80% of their patients underwent surgery within 48 hours of admission. One-third of respondents considered non-hip, non-vertebral fractures to merit assessment of future fracture risk. One-third of respondents reported the presence of an Orthogeriatric Service in their hospital, and less than a quarter reported the presence of a Fracture Liaison Service. CONCLUSION: A Call to Action for all National Orthopaedic Associations affiliated with APOA is proposed to improve the care of fragility fracture patients across the region.

Current pathogens infecting open fracture tibia and their antibiotic susceptibility at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South East Asia.

BACKGROUND: Tibia fractures represent the most prevalent open long-bone injuries. Indiscriminate, extensive, and unnecessary use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of infections caused by multidrug resistant organisms that increase morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the spectrum of current organisms infecting the open tibia fractures and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. This research did not alter the exiting practice of the institute to evaluate the current status. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on 628 patients presenting with open fractures of the tibia from July 2018 to July 2020. Sampling for three successive culture (and sensitivity) tests were carried out, 1st on specimens taken in the emergency room (upon patient presentation), 2nd in the emergency theatre after initial debridement, and 3rd in the ward between 12 to 14 days post operatively. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 36.2± 15.4 years, with motor vehicle accidents being the predominant aetiology (72.2%). Results of specimen culture demonstrated that debridement could reduce microbial contamination significantly (P<.05) from 38.5 % to 26.4%. But from the ward sample, the infection rate was 45.1%, while contamination at entering the ward was only 26.4%. The bacteriological study found predominant multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms, namely Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Acinetobacter spp., Enterobacter spp. and Proteus spp. Though Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus was found significantly in the initial culture, they contributed minimally (1.4%) to infect the fracture site. CONCLUSION: The current study found a predominant shift in the trend toward multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms in orthopaedic infection, which was accompanied by a worrying pattern of hospital-acquired infection. These results will help to inform future research and policies within our institution.