The burden of injuries at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, Bhutan

A review of the surgical admission, operating room records, and emergency room consultations for the 2006 was undertaken with the objective of assessing the injury burden at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu. The study revealed that trauma accounted for 20% of all surgical admissions in 2006, out of which the Orthopedic department bore the major chunk of trauma admissions at 61%. Trauma was responsible for more than 5000 disability-adjusted life years lost (DALYs) in 2006. On an average, 2 out of 3 orthopedic procedures were performed for trauma-related conditions. It is hoped that this study will stimulate the local practitioners and policy makers to initiate further studies to build up standardized database on injury burden in Bhutan to facilitate evidence-based decisions by the stakeholders.