What is untreated trauma?
Broken bones are relatively common worldwide, but access to comprehensive medical care is not. In countries where CURE serves, access to surgical care is limited, and the child may not receive the care they need. In some situations, children don’t receive treatment for their broken bones until years after the initial break or don’t receive treatment at all.
A broken bone is one of the most common injuries worldwide. However, lack of treatment is the main difference in severity between the broken bones treated in high-income countries and children treated at CURE.
What issues do children with untreated trauma face?
PAIN
Untreated broken bones are often painful.
DISCRIMINATION
Children with untreated broken bones are often left out of activities and vulnerable to bullying and exclusion.
LIMITED MOBILITY
Children may lose functionality in the affected area, limiting their ability to move independently preventing them from attending school or doing everyday tasks and activities.
How does surgery change a child’s life?
- When broken bones are fixed, children can grow normally.
- Improved mobility means children can walk, play, go to school–and dream for the future.
- Children can grow and thrive when the stigma of a disability is removed.
