STUDY TO EVALUATE THE REASONS FOR PATIENTS CHOOSING BONE SETTERS OVER ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS FOR TREATMENT IN URBAN HYDERABAD, TELANGANA STATE, INDIA

Abstract

Introduction - From the age old times there is the considerable role of traditional treatment in medical field which most of the time has no evidence and proper explanation. One wing of them are the traditional bone setters who have so much of popularity among the common population. Aims and objectives - In the following study we determine the awareness about the variety of orthopaedic conditions, the role of an orthopaedic surgeon in such conditions in common population .The study also aimed to determine the reasons why people get attracted to bone setters. An attempt was made to improve the status of orthopaedic treatment in general population. Materials and methods - A retrospective study was done in which 150 patients were included who attended the hospital and bone setting centers . A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire interview method was used to collect data. The data was collected and analyzed using epi_info 6.04d. Results - There were various reasons given by patients for choosing a bone setter over an orthopaedic surgeon which included reasons like the following, bone setters are the only ones who can deal with fractures (53%) , followed by reasons like orthopaedicians only do surgeries (43%); apprehension of plaster of paris cast and slabs (6%); went because of pressure from family or friends (46%) . Conclusions - Patients and their families make clear decisions about fracture treatment in a hospital or by a traditional bonesetter. There is a need to change the mind set of people that an orthopaedic surgeon does surgery only when required and can treat conservatively in a better way. There is also need to campaign regarding the risk the patients are exposed to when there are no proper medical intervention.