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Weekday dedicated orthopedic OR may improve patient safety and outcomes
Improvements in both patient safety and outcomes were closely associated with weekday dedicated orthopedic operating rooms, according to study results.
Researchers retrospectively evaluated data for 111 patients who underwent treatment for isolated, low-energy femoral neck fractures. Patients were managed with either hemiarthroplasty or open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and stratified into a pre-dedicated orthopedic operating room (DOOR) group or a post-DOOR group. Main outcome measures were surgical timing, intervention type, perioperative complications and postoperative length of stay.
Analysis results showed all femoral neck fractures had a significant decrease in after-hour surgery, or those that occurred between 4 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. The researchers found no significant differences between the rates of arthroplasty vs. ORIF.
Data showed patients suffered significantly fewer morbidities, including significantly decreased rates of postoperative intensive care unit admissions, stroke, infections and myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure, if they underwent surgical treatment for femoral neck fractures after DOOR, according to the researchers.
The researchers also found a significant decrease in postoperative mortality, and a significantly shorter hospitalization was experienced by patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.