Childhood musculoskeletal conditions and trauma 

There are nearly 300,000 children in the US with juvenile arthritis or rheumatic disease.  Almost 30% of girls and 40% of boys will sustain an injury to their bones or joints before age 16. Sports, play, and traffic incidents are the most common causes.  In the US, over 775,000 children under age 15 are treated in hospital emergency departments for sports injuries each year.  A single knee injury early in life can increase the risk for osteoarthritis in adulthood five-fold and a hip injury could more than triple the risk.