title: Community-based rehabilitation and orthopaedic surgery for children with motor impairment in an African context.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the development of a program to treat and rehabilitate children with chronic orthopaedic disabilities in the sub-Saharan African context incorporating orthopaedic reconstructive surgery within community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Practice of rehabilitation descriptive report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a six-year period between 1996 and 2002, a comprehensive project addressing the rehabilitative and orthopaedic surgery needs of children with motor impairments was established in Uganda. Using the principles of CBR, more than 5000 children annually were assisted with 875 receiving orthopaedic reconstructive surgery. CBR proved a powerful tool in creating awareness and facilitating access to care amongst rural populations living in the circumstances of extreme poverty. By networking the services of several non-governmental development organizations, government agencies, service providers and community groups, a large number of children could be reached in an integrated way. The 'recipe for success' of rehabilitation required access to and integration of all of the following ingredients: CBR, a transportation system, rehabilitation hostels, physiotherapy, orthopaedic surgery, and orthopaedic appliance technology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBR played a vital role in ensuring access to rehabilitative care and the success of orthopaedic reconstructive surgery.
authors.affiliation: CBM International, Bensheim, Germany. norgroveanne@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Norgrove
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Penny
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zulianello
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dreise
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steenbeek
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008493:Medical Missions; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D014454:Uganda