ABJS/C.T. Brighton Workshop on Musculoskeletal Trauma in Developing Countries: Editorial Comment

Excerpt

Injuries are a neglected epidemic in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), accounting for 11% of the world’s disease burden in 2001, and ranking 11th in all causes for both mortality and morbidity [9]. Road traffic crashes are predicted to be the eighth leading cause of death, and the fourth leading cause of DALYs (disability adjusted life years) by 2030 [10]. Each year, many of the 20 to 50 million injury survivors are left with a permanent disability, most often related to the musculoskeletal system. The economic and social costs of injuries are profound, and undoubtedly contribute to the vicious cycle of poverty in many developing nations. Despite the weight of evidence of this huge burden, research concerning the prevention and treatment of injuries in LMICs has been underfunded, and limited resources have been allocated for strengthening the delivery of medical services for the injured, including surgical care. Providing universal access to safe, timely, and effective services for musculoskeletal injuries will require a multidisciplinary, multisectoral effort aimed at strengthening the health care system. Key stakeholders include governments and their ministries of health, orthopaedic surgeons and other health care providers (surgical, medical and nonmedical), economists, public health specialists, and various organizations (nongovernmental organizations, professional societies, academic institutions). …