Depression, PTSD After Orthopedic Trauma Is Very Real

New work from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and McMaster University, Ontario, Canada, has found that nearly one-third of patients suffer from depression and more than one-quarter of patients suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an acute orthopedic injury. The study, published in the January 2017 edition of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, included 27 studies and 7,109 subjects.

Gerard P. Slobogean, M.D., M.P.H., is with the R. Adam Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Slobogean told OTW, “As an orthopaedic surgeon who practices at a busy trauma center, I have seen many patients struggle with the psychological impact of their injury and recovery. However, as a clinician-scientist, I discovered a paucity of research in this area to guide my clinical practice.”

“Support for the psychological distress of orthopaedic trauma patients is often overshadowed by a focus on the effective management of the patient’s fracture. I believe there is space in our field for a more holistic approach to identify and treat psychological distress in our patient population. This will not only have a positive effect on the mental health of our patients but will also likely have a positive impact on their fracture recovery. I believe our meta-analysis will help guide future research in this important domain.”