New Patient Referral Patterns May Reflect Gender Biases in Orthopedics

Background Orthopedic surgery traditionally has been a male-dominant specialty with the lowest percentage of female residents and female faculty of all medical specialties. Prior studies demonstrate gender biases from both referring providers and patients. This study investigates surgeon, referring provider, and patient demographic differences in new patient orthopedic referrals. Methodology A retrospective chart review was performed to analyze the demographics of new patients referred to male and female orthopedic surgeons within adult reconstruction and shoulder/elbow specialties at a single academic institution. Patients and referring provider demographics were compared for male and female orthopedic surgeons. Statistical analysis utilized Student's t-test and chi-square analyses for quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Results In total, 2,642 new patients were analyzed, with 2,084 patients being referred from a provider, and 306 patients requesting specific providers. When compared to male surgeons, female surgeons had fewer referrals from male providers (45.3% vs. 50.3%, p = 0.03) and no difference from female providers (30.6% vs, 29.9%, p = 0.72). The female adult reconstruction surgeon had fewer internal referrals compared to a male surgeon of similar experience and time at the institution (8.4% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.03). Female patients requested male surgeons more frequently than female surgeons (76.7% vs. 23.3%, p = 0.02). Conclusions New patient demographics differed between male and female orthopedic surgeons at a single academic institution with more male referring providers referring to male surgeons. Female patients requesting male orthopedic providers may reflect patient and specialty-driven biases. There remains a need for additional female representation in orthopedic surgery, and new patient referral patterns may be a marker to assess and monitor gender biases.