Broken But Not Invisible: Identifying Human Trafficking in Victims with Orthopaedic Injuries

Human trafficking is a public health crisis with profound physical and psychological consequences. Orthopaedic surgeons, who are often the earliest providers to assess traumatic musculoskeletal injuries, have a unique opportunity to identify victims of trafficking. This article highlights 4 cases of patients with orthopaedic injuries sustained in the context of trafficking or through the subsequent psychological effects of such encounters. Despite the high percentage of human trafficking victims who interact with the health-care system, the recognition and identification of such victims remain low. We advocate for increased awareness of the possibility of patients with orthopaedic injuries having been trafficked and the consideration of human trafficking in trauma-informed care training.