Prevalence of orthopedic injuries and their causes in a downtown population of São Paulo

Abstract

The orthopedic injuries make people vulnerable in several ways, causing loss of mobility, privacy and self-care, causing absence from work, social life, and changing body image. To better understand this world, we traced the profile of patients attended by a sector specialized in this type of disorder. 83 patients (46 ± 17 years) were assessed by interview with voluntary participation. Fractures were the largest portion of injuries in patients between 50 and 70 years, with predominance in women. Obesity was a significant factor, showing a mean BMI of 27.7 kg/mg2 among the patients. We conclude that aging, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and occupational diseases predispose to a greater number of referrals to orthopedics. There is a need for intervention with preventive and educational measures, influencing changes in lifestyle and adoption of physical activities that promote better quality of life and provide relief to the adjuvant drug therapy, minimizing comorbidities.