Intimate Partner Violence

This chapter presents a case scenario of a 32‐year‐old woman who presents to orthopedic specialists’ fracture clinic with a displaced clavicle fracture. Radiographs reveal a previous clavicle fracture and a partially united ulna fracture. To determine the relevance of intimate partner violence (IPV) to orthopedic practice, it is important to understand how frequently it affects individuals with orthopedic injuries. The lifetime prevalence of IPV among orthopedic patients is similar to the global prevalence, but higher than the North American general population prevalence. Though orthopedic surgeons and allied HCPs are uniquely positioned to identify and provide critical assistance to women experiencing IPV, they often report barriers to doing so. Since IPV identification programs should be implemented in conjunction with IPV assistance programs, it is also important to understand if IPV assistance programs are beneficial to patients. The chapter also provides recommendations for implementing evidence‐based practice in the clinical setting.