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Disparities Exist in the Experience of Financial Burden Among Orthopedic Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

There are substantial costs associated with orthopedic injury and management. These costs are likely not experienced equally among patients. At the level of the healthcare and hospital systems, disparities in financial burden and patient demographics have already been identified among orthopedic trauma patients. Accordingly, disparities may also arise at the level of the patient and how they experience the cost of their care. We sought to determine (1) how patient demographics are associated with financial burden/toxicity and (2) if patients experience disproportionate financial burden/toxicity and social support secondary to their economic standing.

Recent Findings

It has been described that there is an inequitable experience in clinical and economic outcomes in certain socioeconomic demographics leading to disparities in financial burden. It has been further reported that orthopedic injury, management, and outcomes are not experienced equitably among all demographic and socioeconomic groups.

Summary

Ten articles met inclusion criteria, among which financial burden was disproportionately experienced amid orthopedic trauma patients across age, gender, race, education, and marital status. Financial hardship was also unequally distributed among different levels of income, employment, insurance status, and social deprivation. Younger, female, non-White, and unmarried patients experience increased financial burden. Patients with less education, lower income, limited or no insurance, and greater social deprivation disproportionately experienced financial toxicity compared to patients of improved economic standing. Further investigation into policy changes, social support, and barriers to appropriate care should be addressed to prevent unnecessary financial burden and promote greater patient welfare.

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Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Stephen J. DeMartini, Daniel E. Pereira & Christopher J. Dy

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  2. Daniel E. Pereira
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Contributions

S.D. and D.P. performed the systematic review, collated data from the source articles, and drafted the initial manuscript. CJD provided guidance in shaping the research question and executing the systematic review, reviewed data collated from the source articles, and assisted with revisions of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher J. Dy.

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Stephen DeMartini, Daniel Pereira, and Christopher Dy declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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DeMartini, S.J., Pereira, D.E. & Dy, C.J. Disparities Exist in the Experience of Financial Burden Among Orthopedic Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 17, 129–135 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-024-09890-2

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