Impact of Orthopaedic Trauma on Household Economic Status of Patients in Taraba State

Orthopaedic trauma imposes considerable economic burdens on affected households in Nigeria, particularly in low-income states where social protection mechanisms are absent. This cross-sectional analytic study assesses the economic impact of orthopaedic trauma on household financial status among patients presenting at Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Taraba State, North East Nigeria. Over a six-month period, 150 adult patients who sustained significant musculoskeletal injuries within the preceding three months will be enrolled. Structured interviews will capture data on direct medical costs including surgical fees, implants, and medications, as well as indirect costs such as lost wages, caregiver time, transport, and traditional healer payments. Changes in household expenditure, food security, and asset disposal patterns will be assessed using a household economy analysis framework. Ordinal logistic regression will identify predictors of severe economic hardship. The study hypothesises that long bone fractures requiring surgical fixation cause the greatest household economic disruption. Findings will be submitted to the Taraba State Health Insurance Agency and the National Health Insurance Authority to support the design of trauma-inclusive health financing policies. This research contributes to the health economics literature on orthopaedic trauma in North East Nigeria and strengthens the case for universal health coverage expansion to include emergency orthopaedic care. Keywords: economic impact, orthopaedic trauma, household finance, Taraba, health financing.