title: Family violence: tools for the orthopaedic surgeon.
abstract: Family violence, in the form of child abuse, adult domestic violence, and elder abuse, is a major public health problem in the United States. It leads to physical and psychological disability, loss of productivity, and even death. It can perpetuate itself through successive generations and contributes to the escalating costs of health care in this country. Family violence affects a significant proportion of the US population either as direct victims or as witnesses of abuse. As a result, orthopaedic surgeons are undoubtedly treating family violence victims, knowingly or unknowingly in their practices. Therefore, it is important that orthopaedic surgeons understand that victims of family violence often present for orthopaedic care in both emergency department and office or clinic settings. It is equally important that orthopaedic surgeons acquire the skills that are needed for the appropriate evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and referral of such victims.
authors.affiliation: M & M Orthopaedics, LTD, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zillmer
authors.forename: Donald K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bynum
authors.forename: Mininder S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kocher
authors.forename: William John
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Robb
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Koshy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology