The Plastic Surgeon's Role in the COVID-19 Crisis: Regarding Domestic Violence

Olivia Abbate Ford; Bharti Khurana; Indranil Sinha; Matthew J Carty; Dennis Orgill

doi:10.7759/cureus.12650

The Plastic Surgeon's Role in the COVID-19 Crisis: Regarding Domestic Violence

Cureus. 2021 Jan 12;13(1):e12650. doi: 10.7759/cureus.12650.

Authors

Olivia Abbate Ford¹, Bharti Khurana², Indranil Sinha³, Matthew J Carty³, Dennis Orgill³

Affiliations

¹ Plastic Surgery, Harvard University, Boston, USA.
² Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA.
³ Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA.

Abstract

Pandemics are associated with increased rates of intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV-related physical abuse is most commonly inflicted through craniofacial assault and upper extremity injury. Plastic surgeons are frequently consulted for recommendations in the management of head-and-neck and hand trauma, thereby are uniquely positioned to encounter patients who have experienced IPV. However, IPV training is not routinely offered in surgical education. We provide a review of the increasing prevalence of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic and its pertinence to plastic surgery consultation in the emergency room. This article aims to increase providers' confidence in recognizing IPV-suspicious injuries and propose an educational, interactive tool for discussing IPV with patients.

Keywords: craniofacial; domestic violence; hand; intimate partner violence; trauma.

Publication types

Review