Abstract
Objectives
to evaluate effect of a dedicated ward for patients with fractured neck of femur on length of acute bed stay and 30 days mortality rate.
Design
a retrospective study of two different cohorts of patients with fractured neck of femur, one admitted to a general trauma/surgical ward and the second to a ward dedicated for patients with fractured neck of femur.
Setting
a district general hospital affiliated to a University Teaching Foundation Trust
Cohorts
after application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, the first group includes 348 patients who have been diagnosed and admitted with a fractured neck of femur in a 12 months period starting from 01/01/2005. This group have been admitted to a general trauma/surgical ward. The second cohort includes 432 patients who have been diagnosed and admitted with a fractured neck of femur in a 12 months period starting from 01/05/2007. The second group have been admitted into a dedicated ward for patients with fractured neck of femur
Main outcome measures
Lengths of hospital stay in a orthopaedic bed and 30 days mortality rate as main outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures considered to be theatre waiting time and discharge destination improvement.
Results
length of acute trauma bed stay has been reduced from 18.3 in the first group to 10.9 (P< 0.01) in the second group. Thirty days mortality rate did not show significant difference (10% vs. 10.8%). There were also some improvements in the secondary outcome measures including reduced theatre waiting time.
Conclusion
(with acknowledge of study design limitations) our study has shown a dedicated ward for patients with fractured neck of femur, could shorten acute trauma bed stay, but did not have significant effect on 30 days mortality rate.
