A simple classification system, NOF complexity classification, was developed at the Great Western Hospital Trauma and Orthopaedic department, allowing stratification of resources. This is a four-group classification system, each group with two elements, firstly the patients medical fitness and secondly the complexity of the fracture. (C0=medically fit + simple fracture, C1=medically fit + complex fracture, C2=medically unfit + simple fracture, C3=medically unfit + complex fracture)

Between June 2008 and June 2009, data was collected retrospectively for 290 patients during a weekly MDT meeting to enter data that has been gathered into a departmental database to monitor our performance. The outcomes that we looked for to test the validity of this classification are the thirty-day mortality, annual mortality and length of hospital stay all stratified by complexity.

Results showed that there has been a strong correlation between the complexity classification and the 30-day and annual mortality with P values of 0.015 and 0.008 respectively. This resulted in a 30-day mortality of 4.4%, which is half the national average. Our average length of stay was equal to the national average of 23 days.

This classification system has allowed an improvement in service by adapting a classification system, which is understood by both the Orthogeriatric and Orthopaedic teams.