Recidivism after orthopaedic trauma has diminished over time

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Trauma care
• Public health

Background:

• Recidivism in trauma patients presents a significant challenge.
• Understanding trends in trauma recidivism is crucial for improving patient outcomes and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze orthopaedic trauma patient data from two distinct time periods.
• To identify predictors of recidivism in trauma patients.
• To assess changes in the characteristics of recidivists over time.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of orthopaedic trauma patients from 2007-2011 (n=879) and 2014-2019 (n=954).
• Definition of recidivism as return with an unrelated injury.
• Comparison of recidivism rates and associated factors between the two cohorts.

Main Results:

• Overall recidivism rate decreased from 18.7% to 14.3% (p=0.01).
• Recent recidivists showed higher rates of gunshot wounds (GSW) and mental illness (56.6% vs 28.1%, p<0.0001).
• Recidivists were less likely to be married and frequently underinsured (Medicaid or uninsured).

Conclusions:

• Trauma recidivism has decreased, but the profile of recidivists has shifted towards more GSW and mental illness.
• Underinsurance is a common characteristic among recidivists.
• Socioeconomic trends and targeted interventions may influence these changing patterns in trauma recidivism.