An Evaluation of Patient Characteristics Associated With Medical Disposition in the Surgical Treatment of Ankle Fractures

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate patient characteristics associated with medical disposition in treatment of ankle fractures. The 2018 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was interrogated with data extracted related to the 6 current procedural terminology (CPT) codes available pertaining to ankle fractures: 27766, 27769, 27792, 27814, 27822, and 27823. The primary outcome analysis involved a comparison of patient characteristics and short-term adverse outcomes between those fractures repaired on an inpatient basis versus outpatient basis. A secondary analysis was then performed on patient characteristics and adverse short-term outcomes between those fractures treated on an inpatient basis who were discharged home versus elsewhere. Age (p < .001), race (p < .001), ethnicity (p < .001), body mass index (BMI) (p < .001), estimated probability of mortality (p < .001), estimated probability of morbidity (p < .001), CPT code of fracture designation (p < .001), functional status (p < .001), elective surgery designation (p < .001), American Society of Anesthesiologists class (p < .001), diabetes (p < .001), smoking status (p < .001), dyspnea (p < .001), COPD (p < .001), congestive heart failure (p < .001), hypertension (p < .001), dialysis (p < .001), cancer (p < .001), steroid use (p < .001), blood transfusion history (p < .001), and sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome history (p < .001) were all independently associated with the ankle fracture repair being performed on an inpatient basis on regression analysis. Age (p < .001), race (p = .025), ethnicity (p < .001), BMI (p = .001), CPT code of fracture designation (p < .001), preoperative functional status (p < .001), and American Society of Anesthesiologists class (p < .001) were all independently associated with inpatient ankle fracture repairs being discharged to home following the procedure on regression analysis. The results of this investigation demonstrate that differences in patient demographic characteristics might contribute to medical decision-making as it relates to patient management and discharge disposition in the treatment of ankle fractures.