Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 25(5):661-665, SEP 2005

DOI: 10.1097/01.bpo.0000164869.35179.0f

,  

PMID: 16199951

Issn Print: 0271-6798

Publication Date: 2005/09/01


Share this on facebook   Share this on Twitter   Share this on LinkedIn   Email this article  



Print

Pediatric Orthopaedic Injuries: The Effect of Treatment on School Attendance

Andrea Sesko;Julie Choe;Mark Vitale;Obinwanne Ugwonali;Joshua Hyman;

+ Author Information


    loading  Checking for direct PDF access through Ovid

Abstract

This study aims to determine whether children experience difficulty attending school after an acute orthopaedic injury and, if so, what the barriers are to attendance. Seventy-eight school-aged patients receiving treatment of acute orthopaedic injuries or conditions at the authors' institution were enrolled in this prospective study. Follow-up interviews were conducted with children who could not return to school. Fifty-three percent of the children were able to return to school immediately; those who were not were absent for 35.9 days on average. Nearly three quarters of absentees attributed the nonattendance to refusal by the school, and only 36.7% received home instruction during their absence. A regression model showed that children using crutches were five times less likely to attend school than children without crutches. This study indicates that orthopaedic injuries and their treatments contribute to school absence. Refusal by the school to accommodate the injured child was the primary barrier to attendance.

Related Topics

        loading  Loading Related Articles