Posttraumatic stress symptoms in children recovering from minor orthopaedic injury and treatment.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to determine the prevalence of high levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among pediatric orthopaedic trauma patients recovering from injury and to see whether injury or demographic variables are associated with the presence of the symptoms.


METHODS
Four hundred pediatric orthopaedic trauma patients completed the Child PTSD Symptom Scale questionnaire. Demographic and injury variables were tested to see if any were associated with the presence of high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms.


RESULTS
The average age of respondents was 11 years. The average time since injury was 36 days. The mean Injury Severity Score and summed Extremity Abbreviated Injury Score were 4 and 2, respectively. A total of 130 (33%) met criteria for high levels of PTSD symptoms. None of the variables tested were associated with high levels of PTSD symptoms, except one. Patients admitted to the hospital after injury were significantly more likely to develop high levels of PTSD symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
High levels of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms are common in the recovery period after pediatric orthopaedic trauma, even among patients with relatively minor injury. Children admitted to the hospital after injury are at higher risk for such symptoms.
Sanders
Michael B
MB
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Starr
Adam J
AJ
Frawley
William H
WH
McNulty
Michael J
MJ
Niacaris
Timothy R
TR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome