Description
- Abstract:
- This retrospective epidemiologic study examined orthopedic injuries among incarcerated adults in the United States from 2004 to 2023 using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database. The objective was to characterize injury patterns, mechanisms, and demographic disparities within this underrepresented population. A total of 4,616 orthopedic injuries were identified, representing a national estimate of thousands of cases annually. Contusions (30.7%), fractures (28.8%), and sprains or strains (24.5%) were the most common injuries, with the hand and shoulder most frequently affected. Bunk beds were the leading cause of injury for both sexes (33.6% of males, 52.9% of females), followed by basketball, walls/ceilings, and flooring. White incarcerated individuals exhibited higher injury incidence than Black individuals, while females had higher rates across all age groups, suggesting potential inequities in access to medical treatment. These findings reveal a significant orthopedic injury burden in correctional settings and underscore the need for targeted prevention strategies, such as improved bunk design, safer flooring, and violence reduction initiatives. The study also highlights potential underreporting and disparities in injury documentation, emphasizing the importance of equitable healthcare access for incarcerated populations. Overall, this represents the first national-level analysis of orthopedic injuries in U.S. prisons, providing essential data for future safety and policy interventions.
- Notes:
- Scholarly concentration: Non-Scholarly Concentrator
Access Conditions
- Use and Reproduction
- All rights reserved
- Rights
- In Copyright
- Restrictions on Use
- All Rights Reserved
Citation
Laud, Arjun, Farias, Michael, Lewis, Alexander, et al.,
"The Epidemiology of Orthopedic Injuries in the Incarcerated Population"
(2025).
Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:mkthd8hs/
Relations
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Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium
The Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium is an annual event at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University that provides Year II medical students a venue to present their summer research in a poster format. Participation in the Symposium …...