Functional changes during inpatient rehabilitation for children with musculoskeletal diagnoses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe functional self-care and mobility changes of children with musculoskeletal diagnoses during inpatient rehabilitation.

Methods: A retrospective record review was completed for 50 children and youth aged three to 20 years admitted to inpatient rehabilitation after a traumatic musculoskeletal injury or after orthopedic surgery because of a preexisting musculoskeletal or neuromuscular disorder. Admission to discharge changes in summary scaled scores on the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory's (PEDI) Functional Skills and Caregiver Assistance Self-Care and Mobility scales for the total group and two diagnostic subgroups were examined using paired t tests and effect-size coefficients.