Weber A fractures are a sub-group of ankle fractures parallel or distal to the joint line, below the level of the syndesmosis. Most stable Weber A fractures are managed conservatively with no significant difference in outcome vs. surgical intervention.^1,2In an effort to ensure staff time was being used as efficiently as possible, a consultant-led virtual fracture clinic (VFC) was introduced to manage Weber A fractures. Patients not requiring immediate surgery were reviewed remotely and, wherever possible, were ‘virtually discharged’ to a nurse-led telephone line. Those with diagnostic uncertainty, unusual features or delayed recovery received a face to face review from a nurse or surgeon.

To examine how patients were allocated under this protocol, along with overall patient satisfaction and functional outcome.

An audit of satisfaction and outcome was performed of all patients who presented with a Weber A fracture to the ED between October 2011 and October 2012. The minimum follow-up period was two years. A satisfaction and patient reported outcome (5-level-likert-scale, EQ-5D, MOXFQ) measure was conducted via telephone.^3,4After exclusions, 79 patients were left, of which 63 were successfully contacted (80%).

Of the 79 patients included, 33 (42%) required early face-to-face review while 46 (58%) were discharged with advice following discussion at the VFC. Of the 63 successfully contacted, receipt of the information leaflet was recalled by 61 (97%) and 54 (86%) were satisfied with the information they had received. There was no difference in patient satisfaction regarding recovery (p=0.079) or treatment information (p=0.236) provided between avulsion and transverse fractures or in functional outcome according to MOXFQ (p=0.626) or EQ-Vas (p=0.915) scores.

Patient satisfaction can remain high without face-to-face consultations following injury. This was demonstrated by the high satisfaction with recovery (83%) and with information provided (86%) and is consistent with current published literature and similar to what would have been achieved with traditional fracture clinic review.⁵The new protocol reduces unnecessary hospital attendances for patients and reduces the burden of unnecessary review in orthopaedic departments. Only 15% of patients required review at a traditional fracture clinic and 27% at a nurse-led clinic, freeing resources for more complex cases.