[The prevalance of orthopedic disabilities in the district of Cay, Afyon, Turkey].

OBJECTIVES

Data were collected on disabilities from a sample population in order to estimate the prevalence of orthopedic disabilities in the general population.

METHODS

A two-stage field study was conducted in Cay, a district of Afyon, Turkey. In the first stage, a list of all individuals with orthopedic disabilities was derived. Then, medical histories were elicited and examinations were made by a team of specialists of orthopedics and traumatology. Radiographic studies were made when necessary. Orthopedic disabilities were defined as any muscle or skeletal abnormality that was associated with a permanent functional loss and were classified as congenital, traumatic, cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, and other causes.

RESULTS

The overall population was 35,571, of whom 189 had orthopedic disabilities (53/10,000). The male-to-female ratio was 1.8. The most common cause was congenital diseases (25.9%; 13.7/10,000), followed by trauma (23.8%; 12.6/10,000), cerebral palsy (21.7%; 11.5/10,000), poliomyelitis (10.1%; 5.3/10,000), and others (18.5%; 9.8/10,000). The lowest mean age (19+/-5 years) was found in those with cerebral palsy, which was associated with the highest degree of functional loss. The mean age in patients with poliomyelitis was 29+/-7 years. It was found that 37% of the disabled could benefit from either a limited or extensive surgical intervention, and 9% could have significant improvement both in functional ability and life quality through physical therapy or the use of a prosthesis/orthosis. Only 18% were under the coverage of a health insurance, though.

CONCLUSION

The data of this study may throw some new light on the prevalence and implications of orthopedic disabilities in Turkey.