Category: Trauma
Keywords: IPV, violence, injury, ulna, orthopedics (PubMed Search)
Posted: 9/1/2024 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
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In this systemic literature review of orthopedic injuries identified in intimate partner violence (IPV) the authors remind us that finger, hand, and especially isolated ulnar fractures are very commonly associated with IPV. When we see these injury patterns extra effort is required to determine if IPV is involved.
| Citation | **Bhandari et al.**3 | **Khurana et al.**18 | **Loder et al.**12 | **Porter et al.**13 | **Kavak et al.**7 | **Thomas et al.**17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division of injury locations | Fingers, wrist, shoulder dislocation, humerus fracture | Finger, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, humerus, shoulder | Finger, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, humerus, shoulder | Radius/ulna, humerus, upper extremity, right/left | Phalanx, radius, ulna (diaphysis/metaphysis, distal/proximal) | Phalanges (distal/medial/proximal), hand/finger, forearm, arm/shoulder right/left |
| Most common UEF location | Fingers (n = 11) | Finger (34.3%) | Finger (9.9%) | Radius and ulna (n = 80; 5.9%) | Ulna (14.5%) | Finger (46%) |
| Most common injury type‡ | Musculoskeletal sprains (all n = 21; 28% back n = 7; neck n = 6) | UEF (27.2%) | Contusions/abrasion (43.4%) | Rib fracture (17.5%) | Soft-tissue lesions (n = 1,007, 82.2%) | UEF (52%) |
* IPV = intimate partner violence, UEF = upper extremity fracture, and UEI = upper extremity injury.
† Summary table demonstrating the location prevalence of UEIs caused by cases of IPV. Fractures were quantified separately from other UEIs in this specific table.
‡ In all included articles the most common injury type was an injury to the head or neck; these are excluded because of the study aim.
Orthopaedic Injury Patterns in Intimate Partner Violence: Defensive Wounds and Fracture PatternsA Systematic Literature Review
Roan Willson, BS Erika Roddy, MDHolly Martinson, PhDCaitlin Farrell Skelton, MPHLisa Taitsman, MD, MPH
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
August 2024; 12 (8): e24.00082
DOI 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.24.00082
