A Humanitarian Crisis: Care of the Migrant Patient

The migration crisis occurring along the southern border of the United States is a controversial sociopolitical issue. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics, Southwest land border encounters peaked at almost 2.5 million in 2023. A proportion of migrants are injured during their attempts to enter the U.S., and multiple trauma centers along the southern border have identified severe orthopaedic injuries, particularly in patients who fall from the international border wall. Additionally, migrant patients who enter the country with sequelae of old injuries, including deformity, infection, and other chronic orthopaedic problems, may seek care throughout the U.S. Providing care to this population is extremely challenging due to severely limited resources, poor social determinants of health, and rapidly evolving policies. In recognition of these challenges, the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) hosted a symposium on this topic at the 2025 AOA Annual Leadership Meeting, providing a forum for advocacy, connection, and idea-sharing. We shared our experiences with the care of migrant patients in Level 1 trauma centers at points of entry along the border and in a public hospital in New York City, a common destination for these patients. We also highlighted legal and ethical considerations in the provision of orthopaedic care for migrant patients. The symposium included a robust discussion, with the audience sharing their own experiences and offering suggested solutions. This summary of the symposium provides an introductory framework for the care of the migrant orthopaedic patient.

Duke Scholars

Author Christian Pean Orthopaedic Surgery