2151 A retrospective analysis of outcomes in inpatient fallers who sustain a neck of femur fracture

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Abstract Introduction Inpatient fallers make up the minority of neck of femur fractures (NOF) in Morriston Hospital but it was observed that outcomes were less favourable than those in patients who sustained their fracture outside of hospital. Method Retrospective analysis was conducted of all NOF patients managed in Morriston Hospital whose injury was the result of an inpatient fall between January 2022 and December 2023. Outcomes were compared to those in all other NOF patients including pathological and occult fractures managed in the centre over the same two-year period. Anonymised data were collected from departmental and electronic patient records. Results A total of 1383 NOF patients were analysed of whom 51 sustained their fracture whilst as inpatients across four hospital sites. Among inpatients 35% were identified as requiring supervision when mobilising, the majority required walking aids (73%) and fell on medical wards (65%). Median length of stay prior to falling was 25 days (range 1–171). Patients who sustained a NOF as an inpatient had a lower initial abbreviated mental test scores (p 0.001) and higher frailty scores (p 0.0001) compared to all others, they also had a longer length of stay post injury (Median 23 days vs 17 days p 0.002). Mortality was significantly higher among inpatient fallers Odds Ratio (OR) 4.0 and they were significantly less likely to be discharged to their own home OR 0.3. Post-operative delirium was also seen more frequently OR 2.1. Conclusion This data demonstrates that morbidity and mortality is significantly greater among those who fall and sustain a NOF fracture as an inpatient compared to all others. Further work, particularly the timing of inpatient falls in relation to staff handover, is being continued to investigate whether there are any modifiable factors to reduce inpatient falls and the burden of their consequences.