Motives and consequences of musculoskeletal injuries management at traditional bone setting centers rather than hospital orthopedic departments in Khartoum, Sudan 2020

Background: Traditional bone setter (TBS) is a traditional practitioner of joint manipulation who lack proper training and formal education, therefore many complications and fracture morbidity has been reported in relation to TBS malpractice. Material and methodos: The goal of this study was to determine the motives and subsequent complications of seeking TBS rather than orthopedic doctors even though patients should seek urgent proper medical care. Data of this study has been drawn from observational descriptive cross-sectional combined hospitals and community based, multicenter study in Sudan. Results: (55.3%) of participants were at TBS centers and (44.7%) were at hospitals for a variety of reasons; (66.7%) of total participants have utilized TBS services as either 1st or 2nd intervention before or following hospital management and complications were reported in (22.3%) of total participants utilizing TBS services. Conclusion: The number of patients seeking TBS centers exceeded the number of patients seeking hospitals for musculoskeletal injuries management. Finally there was no association between the educational level, socioeconomic status and the first action taken By patient toward their injuries. Keywords: Traditional bone setter; complications; Orthopedics.