Care of complex and open fractures may provide better results if undertaken in larger units, typically Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) or Orthoplastic units. Some ‘complex injuries’ may still be admitted to units lacking specialist services potentially delaying definitive treatment. The aim of this study was to analyse the referral pattern for acute inpatient transfer in an adult limb reconstruction unit for one calendar year.

Prospectively collected data from an electronic database for 2016 was reviewed. All records were evaluated for, diagnosis, time from injury to referral, nature of initial treatment, time to transfer, details of definitive surgery, and time to repatriation.

There were 91 formal electronic referrals, 84 of which considered appropriate for inpatient transfer. 74 were for fresh complex fractures, including 22 pilon fractures and 23 bicondylar tibial fractures. Median delay to request transfers for acute trauma was 3 days (0d-19d), delay from referral to transfer was 8.5 days (1d-31d) and delay from date of injury to definitive surgery was 13 days (1d-52d). 9 patients with Grade 3 open fractures and had primary debridement at the referring institution with a median delay to definitive orthoplastic surgery of 9 days (5d-20d). Only 17 of 61 per-articular fractures had spanning external fixation at the referring institution. Delay to repatriation was 8 days (0d–72d).

This study demonstrates organisational failures in acute orthopaedic care: open fractures not being primarily treated in orthoplastic centres or MTCs, delays in transfers due to bed-blocks, and significant delays in repatriation. It also demonstrates scope for improvement in clinical practice, and in particular, the need to reinforce the advantages of spanning external fixation of periarticular fractures.

Our data serves to highlight continuing problems in delivery of acute fracture care, despite widely publicised recent national guidelines.