Evaluating the association of social determinants of health and patient-reported outcome measures in patients with lisfranc injuries

Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) have been shown to impact postoperative outcomes for several orthopaedic injuries. Understanding the role of these factors in patients sustaining Lisfranc injury can help identify disparities and target interventions to optimize recovery. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the influence of SDOH in postoperative outcomes of patients with Lisfranc injury aged ≥ 18 years. Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and Area Deprivation Index (ADI) were gathered using patient ZIP codes. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) were collected. Results: Significant differences were found in postoperative physical health (p = 0.02) and function (p = 0.03) across different races, with white patients reporting better postoperative outcomes. Furthermore, private insurance was associated with better physical (p = 0.02) and mental health (p = 0.01). Lower socioeconomic status, minority status, poorer housing/transportation, higher social vulnerability, and higher area deprivation correlated with PROMs across physical, mental, and pain domains (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study found SDOH, including race, neighborhood factors, and socioeconomic status were associated with lower PROMs in patients with Lisfranc injury, highlighting the need for stakeholders to prioritize interventions aiming to address health disparities among patients with orthopaedic injuries.