Study of Psychiatry Morbidity Following Traumatic Long Bone Injury

Background: Limb fractures due to traumatic injury cause pain, prolonged discomfort, loss of function and immobility and are expected to produce adverse psychological effects. However, there is paucity of work regarding psychopathology following bone trauma in India. Aim: To evaluate the psychiatric morbidity amongst patients with Traumatic long bone injury (fracture). Design: Cross sectional study Setting: Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Nashik-Maharashtra. Method: The study was carried out amongst 100 randomly selected patients in the age group of 18- 65 yrs who had sustained long bone injury (fracture). Patients were evaluated 4-6 weeks after the trauma over a period of 18 months. All patients were screened using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview version 6.0.0. Statistical Analysis was done using the EPI-INFO software. Result: Long bone fracture patients had a high prevalence of Major depressive disorder (23%). Axis I psychiatric diagnosis shows significant association with age, marital status and education (p<0.05). The commonest cause of injury was road traffic accidents among males (n=58) and it was statistically significant. (p<0.05). Axis I psychiatric diagnosis was found more in road traffic accidents 18 (54.5%) and individuals with closed and lower limb fracture 26 (78.78%). Conclusion: In view of occurrence of psychopathology following long bone trauma. Orthopaedic surgeons need to be aware of these conditions so that they should refer patients for psychiatric evaluation and appropriate treatment.