Orthopaedic Management of Traumatic Limb Emergencies in Brazzaville

Introduction: Limb injuries are a major cause of visits to A&E departments, particularly in low- and middleincome countries where road traffic accidents are on the rise.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of the orthopaedic management of limb injuries at the Brazzaville University Hospital.

Methods: A descriptive study conducted from January to June 2025 in the surgical A&E department. Patients aged ≥ 5 years admitted for orthopaedic treatment of a limb injury were included.

Results: 156 patients were included, comprising 93 men (59.6%) and 63 women (40.4%). The mean age was 45.57 ± 6 years (range: 5–71 years), with a predominance in the 10–15 age group. Road traffic accidents accounted for 76% of cases, followed by falls (10%) and assaults (11%). All patients presented with pain and functional impairment. Fractures involved the upper limbs (51.3%) and pelvis (41%). The forearm (32.7%) and lower leg (26.3%) were the most common sites. Treatment was exclusively orthopaedic, involving plaster cast immobilisation.

Conclusion: Limb injuries in Brazzaville are predominantly caused by road traffic accidents and mainly affect young people. Orthopaedic treatment remains an appropriate therapeutic option in our context.

Keywords: Trauma, Fractures, Orthopaedic Treatment, Emergency Department, Brazzaville.