Abstract
BackgroundFractured neck of femur patients represent a large demand on trauma services, and timely management results in improvements in morbidity and mortality. NICE guidance, advocating surgery on the day of admission or the following day, emphasises this. We set out to investigate whether a simulated fast-track management system could improve neck of femur fracture patient care.Materials and methodsThis prospective study was performed in a district general hospital in South West England, following a change in practise. We studied 429 patients over a 1-year period. Patients were phoned through, by the ambulance crew, to a trauma coordinator who arranged prompt radiological assessment and review. Patients with confirmed fractures were transferred to an optimisation area for orthopaedic and anaesthetic assessment prior to surgery the same day or early the following day. Our primary outcome measures were time to theatre (h) and length of hospital stay (days/h).ResultsTime to theatre reduced from 44.95 (±27.42) to 29.28 (±21.23) h. Length of stay reduced from 10 days (245.92 (±131.02) h) to 9 days (225.30 (±128.75) h). Both of these improvements were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Despite operating on virtually all patients, no increase in adverse events was seen, there was no increase in 30-day mortality and there were no perioperative deaths.ConclusionsThis coordinated management pathway improves the efficiency of the service and reduces inpatient length of stay. Increased productivity may lead to financial savings and improve our ability to meet guidelines.
Highlights
Each year there are between 700,000 and 750,000 hip fractures in the UK, with an associated estimated cost of medical and social care of £2 billion [1]
Background Fractured neck of femur patients represent a large demand on trauma services, and timely management results in improvements in morbidity and mortality
We set out to investigate whether a simulated fast-track management system could improve neck of femur fracture patient care
Summary
Each year there are between 700,000 and 750,000 hip fractures in the UK, with an associated estimated cost of medical and social care of £2 billion [1]. Fractured neck of femur patients represent a large burden on trauma service and are associated with significant mortality: approximately 10 % at 1 month and 33 % at 1 year postfracture [1]. These patients are often given low priority, resulting in increasing demands on trauma care and the planning of subspecialty work [2]. Fractured neck of femur patients represent a large demand on trauma services, and timely management results in improvements in morbidity and mortality. Despite operating on virtually all patients, no increase in adverse events was seen, there was no increase in 30-day mortality and there were no perioperative deaths
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