INTRODUCTION

Socioeconomic status has been correlated with clinical and functional outcomes in elective orthopaedic surgery; however, there has been limited application in orthopaedic trauma. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) uses 17 different metrics to assess disadvantages at the neighborhood level by zip code. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between ADI and unplanned return to the operating room (UROR) in the orthopaedic trauma patient population.

METHODS

A retrospective review of adult orthopaedic trauma patients from 2014 to 2019 at a level 1 trauma center was done. Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and ADI were recorded. ADI was used to describe survival to UROR, and logistic regressions were used to identify factors that increased the odds of UROR.

RESULTS

In total, 1,031 patients were included in the study, with a UROR incidence of 14.3%. The average ADI score fell in the minimally deprived category (second quartile). Univariate analysis demonstrated a significant association between UROR and younger age (P < 0.001), higher Injury Severity Score (P < 0.001), ADI > 75 (P< 0.05), osteoporosis (P < 0.001), open fracture (P< 0.05), number of fractures (P < 0.05), and higher fracture complexity (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that ADI > 75 (OR 3.486, P = 0.029), younger age (OR 0.982, P = 0.004), Injury Severity Score (OR 1.069, P < 0.001), and osteoporosis (OR 5.086, P < 0.001) was associated with UROR. Kaplan-Meier confirmed increased rates of UROR for the third and fourth ADI quartiles for all cases (P < 0.001) and when controlling for symptomatic implant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Defined by ADI, patients from severely deprived communities undergoing orthopaedic trauma interventions were found to have a 3.5-fold increased rate of UROR. This study shows outcome disparities in the orthopaedic trauma population when using a comprehensive measure for socioeconomic status even after controlling for other contributing factors. Understanding and addressing the unique challenges facing socioeconomically deprived patient populations has the potential to markedly improve outcomes for orthopaedic trauma patients.