A new study exposes missed chances for orthopaedic surgeons to spot intimate partner violence (IPV) in their patients.
The retrospective review, spanning 24 years, highlights the opportunity for orthopaedic surgeons to play a critical role in identifying patients who have experienced IPV.
The study by US researchers at Mass General Brigham suggests that although orthopaedic surgeons are experts in musculoskeletal injuries, routine screening of patients for IPV is not standard practice.
The fact that only 0.3% of IPV referrals were from orthopaedic surgeons, compared with 29% from the emergency department, highlights the issue.
According to the authors, much can be done.
This includes:
• Correcting misperceptions about the prevalence of IPV
• Improving education about IPV-related injuries
• Strengthening links with domestic violence programmes and resources to help improve referrals and recognition.
Lead author Ophelie Lavoie-Gagne, a resident physician in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Mass General Brigham, said: ‘This study challenges the assumption that orthopaedic encounters are not the right place for IPV screenings. We have a unique opportunity to educate and empower our patients who otherwise would not present for care at other medical sites. This study underscores the urgent need for tools that combine our clinical expertise with support to provide timely, life-saving referrals. Identifying risk early could alleviate suffering and could also prevent a patient’s death.’
Investigators note that orthopaedic surgeons have unique strengths that position them well to screen for IPV, including:
• Expertise in injury patterns
• Long-term patient relationships
• Familiarity with pain management.
Artificial intelligence (AI) models also play a role in identifying signs of IPV and could be integrated into orthopaedic screening protocols.
Senior author Bharti Khurana, founding director of the Trauma Imaging Research and Innovation Centre and an emergency radiologist in the Mass General Brigham Department of Radiology, said: ‘This study reinforces why tools like the Automated Intimate Partner Violence Risk Support System are urgently needed. Orthopaedic encounters often represent missed opportunities to identify patients experiencing IPV. By combining clinicians’ expertise with AI models that detect subtle patterns across imaging and clinical data, we can support surgeons in making timely, life-saving referrals.’
