Children's orthopaedics in the tropics

Abstract

In this chapter, an epidemiological and clinical survey of children's orthopaedics and trauma, as these relate to countries in the tropics, is presented. While there is a similarity with the majority of diseases encountered in the developed countries, there are certain defining characteristics in the incidence, the pattern, the severity or otherwise, and in the clinical presentation of many of these diseases. These peculiarities are the result of subtle influences exerted by changes in the environment and human behavior, wet and humid weather conditions coupled with changing weather patterns, poor socio-economic status, population density, population movement, low literacy and health awareness, and traditional, fatalistic, and mystical beliefs. The problems of accessibility to modern health-care facilities and services, compounded with a reluctance to seek treatment early and the fear of surgical intervention, also influence the outcome. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2010.