Musculoskeletal disorders in children: a study in Dutch general practice.

OBJECTIVE

This study focuses on the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders in children presented in general practice. Known epidemiological studies addressing musculoskeletal diseases in childhood are scarce and based on a low number of episodes.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective study of all patient contacts in general practice. A total number of 161 general practitioners participated, divided into four groups, registering during four consecutive three-month periods.

PATIENTS

All children younger than 15 years of age who visited their GP during the registration period. All diagnoses and working hypotheses concerning musculoskeletal disorders were selected.

RESULTS

The total number of children in the study was 64,198. Disorders of the musculoskeletal system accounted for 3,699 (7.5%) of all 49,309 contacts and for 3,046 (7.5%) of all 40,340 episodes. Of the 3,046 episodes registered for ICPC-chapter L (musculoskeletal), 2,562 (84%) were new episodes, i.e. not presented to the GP before. Fifty-four percent of all new episodes were acute injuries. In 22% of the new episodes the general practitioner made a symptom diagnosis. Differences by age and sex were found for a limited number of diagnosis categories.

CONCLUSION

Children present disorders of the musculoskeletal system less often than adults; they also present different disorders to their general practitioners. The majority of disorders presented by children are acute injuries, mostly sprains and strains.