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The Global Burden of Musculoskeletal Injuries: Challenges and Solutions

  • Symposium: ABJS/C.T. Brighton Workshop on Trauma in the Developing World
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Abstract

Musculoskeletal injuries are a major public health problem globally, contributing a large burden of disability and suffering. This burden could be considerably lowered by implementation of affordable and sustainable strategies to strengthen orthopaedic trauma care, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This article summarizes the global burden of musculoskeletal injuries and provides several examples of successful programs that have improved care of injuries in health facilities in low- and middle-income countries. Finally, it discusses WHO efforts to build on the country experiences and to make progress in lowering the burden of musculoskeletal injuries globally.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability, WHO, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland

    Charles Mock MD, PhD

  2. Department of Essential Health Technologies, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland

    Meena Nathan Cherian MD

Authors
  1. Charles Mock MD, PhD
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  2. Meena Nathan Cherian MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles Mock MD, PhD.

Additional information

The author certifies that he has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Presented in part at the ABJS/Carl T. Brighton Workshop on Musculoskeletal Trauma in Low and Middle Income Countries, Ahmedabad, India, December 11–14, 2007.

Disclaimer: The authors are staff members of the World Health Organization. The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication and they do not necessarily represent the decisions or policies of the World Health Organization.

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Mock, C., Cherian, M.N. The Global Burden of Musculoskeletal Injuries: Challenges and Solutions. Clin Orthop Relat Res 466, 2306–2316 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0416-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0416-z

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