Domestic violence: the role of the orthopaedic surgeon in identification and treatment.

Domestic violence is a major public health problem in the United States. As many as 35% of women visiting hospital emergency departments for trauma care are there because of injuries caused by intimate partner violence. The practicing orthopaedic surgeon may come in contact with these women in the emergency department as well as in the office setting. The ability to identify victims of abuse requires a sensitive approach and a specific set of skills. Once the victim has been identified, appropriate referral to local agencies is critical to help ensure the victim's safety. The issues surrounding identification, documentation, inquiry about safety, and activation of community services need to be incorporated into the core curriculum of resident training programs and the continuing education of the practicing orthopaedic surgeon.