Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Outpatient surgery in patients with ankle fractures minimises hospital admissions and utilisation of healthcare resources.
Bullock, Travis S; Gutierrez-Naranjo, Jose M; DelBello, Robert G; Karia, Ravi A; Zelle, Boris A.
  • Bullock TS; Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA.
  • Gutierrez-Naranjo JM; Department of Orthopaedics, UT Health San Antonio, Floyd Curl Dr, MC 7774, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA.
  • DelBello RG; Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA.
  • Karia RA; Department of Orthopaedics, UT Health San Antonio, Floyd Curl Dr, MC 7774, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA.
  • Zelle BA; Department of Orthopaedics, UT Health San Antonio, Floyd Curl Dr, MC 7774, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA. zelle@uthscsa.edu.
Int Orthop ; 45(9): 2395-2400, 2021 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-704650
ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has emphasised the need to minimise hospital admissions and utilisation of healthcare resources. The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes of an outpatient surgery protocol for acute closed ankle fractures.

METHODS:

In this retrospective study, 262 patients underwent outpatient surgery for their closed ankle fractures at our level-1 trauma centre. A total of 196 patients met our inclusion criteria and were ultimately included in the final analysis. Our primary outcomes' measures included post-operative admission to the emergency department within 30 days after surgery and unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days after surgery. Our secondary outcome measure included the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) within 12 weeks after surgery.

RESULTS:

Thirty-two patients (16.3%) had an unplanned emergency department visit within 30 days of fracture fixation and two patients (1.0%) required hospital readmission within 30 days of their surgery. Sixteen patients (8.2%) developed SSI, which included 11 (5.6%) superficial and five (2.6%) deep infections.

CONCLUSION:

Strategic outpatient management of acute closed ankle fractures is associated with acceptable rates of unplanned emergency department visits, hospital readmissions, and SSIs. In the context of the recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, outpatient management of these injuries may aide in the mitigation of nosocomial infections and the preservation of finite healthcare resources.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ankle Fractures / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Int Orthop Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00264-020-04768-7

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ankle Fractures / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Int Orthop Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00264-020-04768-7