Home is supposed to be a safe port in a storm. But sometimes, home is the storm…and that storm ends up in your trauma center, clinic or office.
According to the American Medical Association, intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as a pattern of coercive behaviors that may include repeated battering and injury, psychological abuse, sexual assault, progressive social isolation, economic deprivation and intimidation.
The facts:
- One in 50 women presenting to an orthopedic clinic with an injury have been injured from intimate partner violence.1
- On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States.2
- 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.3
Those statistics are alarming.
Luckily, there are orthopedic physicians and staff who are making a meaningful difference. One of those is Paul Tornetta, III, M.D., chief of orthopedics at Boston Medical Center.
Dr. Tornetta, who is also the director of orthopedic trauma at that institution, told OTW, “We know from the World Health Organization that while women can be violent in relationships with men, and violence does occur in same-sex partnerships, the overwhelming burden of partner violence is borne by women [who are abused] by men.”
Traditionally, says Dr. Tornetta, those trying to address intimate partner violence have faced skepticism from their peers. “Twelve years ago, an editorial reviewer from a prominent orthopaedic journal wrote to us after reviewing our study saying, ‘I don’t think it adds much to the clinical practice of the orthopaedic surgeon.’ At the same time, a note from the editor of a different, highly respected journal read, ‘It is unlikely that your article would be of sufficient interest to the clinicians who practice orthopaedic trauma.’”
And yet, says Dr. Tornetta, “You open the door to exam room and see a woman who says she fell down the stairs. You examine her, ask the traditional clinical questions, but something in your gut alerts you that she is not telling the whole story. You are triple booked…but if you take a few extra minutes you could be a hero.”
“But I don’t save lives, I save limbs,” you think.
Think again…
