Socioeconomic impact of orthopaedic trauma Studies on measuring outcomes, estimating effects, and identifying recovery priorities in the United States, Canada, and Uganda

Orthopaedic trauma is common, affecting over one percent of the global population each year. These injuries are unexpected, often work-related, and frequently affect individuals of lower socioeconomic status. The overarching objective of this thesis was to advance the evidence on the socioeconomic impact of orthopaedic trauma. The thesis endeavored to achieve this objective through three specific aims. The aims were: 1) to describe and evaluate the currently available options for measuring socioeconomic outcomes after orthopaedic injury; 2) to estimate the socioeconomic effects of fractures in three countries with unique healthcare and social welfare systems; and 3) to identify the socioeconomic recovery priorities of fracture patients. The findings of this thesis suggest that orthopaedic trauma has a substantial and sustained impact on the socioeconomic well-being of patients. The effects appear to vary by country and are likely correlated with the availability of health and social insurance programs. Common socioeconomic measures are insufficient for evaluating socioeconomic effects, and innovation for quantifying socioeconomic well-being is required. Understanding patient recovery priorities is essential for optimizing current care pathways and policies to improve value-based care. The failure to mitigate the socioeconomic consequences of injury will not only affect the patient’s socioeconomic well-being but may also negatively affect future health.