Care Differences Between Male And Female Patients In An Acute Care Orthopedic Clinic

PURPOSE: Understanding potential disparities in medical interventions between male and female patients is essential for optimizing orthopedic care. This single-center observational study examines differences in interventions offered to male and female patients at a walk-in orthopedic clinic from May to September 2023. METHODS: A total of 204 male and 257 female patients were included. Interventions analyzed included advanced imaging, oral medications, injections, physical therapy, durable medical equipment (DME), activity modification, surgery, and follow-up care. Retrospective chart review was utilized to collect data and chi-squared analysis was performed to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of advanced imaging (12.75% of males vs. 8.95% of females, p < 0.001) and surgical intervention (2.45% of males vs. 0.39% of females, p = 0.05), with males receiving these interventions more frequently. Differences among other interventions were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Male patients were more likely to receive advanced imaging and surgical interventions compared to female patients, while other treatment modalities were similar between sexes. Further investigation is needed to determine whether these differences reflect variations in injury severity, provider decision-making, or other factors.