Spectrum of Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Rural Indonesian Hospital: Implications for Orthopedic Service Planning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65745/soj.v1.i2.24Keywords:
Musculoskeletal disorders, Orthopedic referral, Remote healthcareAbstract
The uneven distribution of orthopedic specialists in Indonesia contributes to disparities in musculoskeletal healthcare, particularly in rural areas. Limited healthcare resources and specialist availability may increase referrals to higher-level facilities. This study aimed to describe the spectrum of musculoskeletal disorders at RS Pratama Mayapuria, North Morowali, Indonesia, and explore their implications for orthopedic service planning. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using medical records from January 2024 to December 2025. Patient demographics, clinical diagnoses, anatomical locations, disease etiologies, and referral status were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 483 patients were included, of whom 71.2% were female and 50.5% were aged 60 years or older. Osteoarthritis (48.2%) and low back pain (24.2%) were the most common diagnoses, predominantly involving the knee and spine. Non-traumatic conditions accounted for 79.9% of cases, while 38.1% of patients were referred to higher-level healthcare facilities. These findings indicate a substantial burden of degenerative and other non-traumatic musculoskeletal conditions and a considerable proportion of referrals in this rural hospital. The observed disease patterns may inform local orthopedic service planning, particularly the development of conservative management and rehabilitation services, alongside essential trauma stabilization capabilities. Strengthening these services may improve access to musculoskeletal care and reduce potentially avoidable referrals, although further assessment of referral indications, healthcare resources, and service capacity is needed to determine specific priorities.
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