Abstract
The period of time acute orthopaedic patients await surgery at Middlemore Hospital is of concern to a number of the Health Professionals involved in their care. This study has arisen out of that concern in an attempt to quantify the extent of these delays.
Every patient operated on at Middlemore Hospital between 01 June and 31 December 2002 who had a fracture that fell within the categories studied was analysed. The six categories analysed were: compound fractures, tibial shaft fractures, femoral shaft fractures, ankle fractures, neck of femur fractures and distal radial fractures. Data regarding the age and time to surgery for each patient was analysed and compared with established guidelines. For the patients with neck of femur fractures additional data regarding their medical fitness for theatre was also analysed.
The study showed there was significant delay in acute patients receiving operative treatment at Middlemore Hospital. Furthermore the study highlighted the large volume of acute patients presenting to Middlemore Hospital.
Further investigation should be undertaken to consider how a department such as Middlemore can provide operative treatment within an acceptable timeframe to nearly 6000 orthopaedic patients a year, while still providing timely surgery for elective patients.
The abstracts were prepared by Jean-Claude Theis. Correspondence should be addressed to him at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dunedin Hospital, Private Bag 1921, Dunedin, New Zealand.
