Emergency presentations for older persons with low back pain: An increasing clinical and economic challenge.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether differences exist for older persons presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) with lower back pain (LBP) in terms of management, health service resource use and cost when compared to younger patients with LBP. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of routinely collected electronic medical record data from January 2015 to July 2021. Data from 11,098 adults presenting with LBP to two large regional Australian EDs were analysed over a 5-year period. Rates of presentation, investigation, medication use, spinal surgery and cost were assessed for all participants with respect to age groups (over or under 65 years of age), diagnosis and time. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the contribution of presentation characteristics to the risk of inpatient admission and to investigate the variable effect of patient age. RESULTS: Older people represented 23% (n = 2565) of all LBP presentations, with a growing proportion of presentations over time. More than 1 in 4 patients over 65 were admitted (n = 703, 27%), with CT imaging being proportionately three times more prevalent (24% vs. 6%), and average cost double (AU$3973 vs. $1671) that of the younger population. Consultation by an ED physiotherapist was associated with lower admission risk across all adult presentations (OR 0.52, 95% CI [0.40 to 0.67]). CONCLUSIONS: Older persons are over-represented amongst gradually increasing rates of LBP presentations to EDs and associated with escalating cost of care and hospital resource use. Older patients present a different clinical and economic profile to younger patients, supporting the provision of individualised management recommendations.

The current management of scaphoid fractures in the emergency department across an Australian metropolitan public health service: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Scaphoid fractures are commonly present to emergency departments (EDs), challenging medical practitioners to achieve accurate diagnosis and management. This is because of the prevalence of radiographically occult scaphoid fractures and complications associated with missed diagnoses. Clinical Guidelines are limited for treatment of suspected scaphoid fractures, and heterogeneity in the literature further complicates management. This study aimed to explore the differences in management between practitioners in the ED and determine if immobilizing clinically suspected scaphoid fractures is supported by current evidence. This study also aimed to establish if there are predictors to assist in the diagnosis of a scaphoid fracture in the ED. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study analyzed clinical data from patient's charts who attended the ED for a scaphoid fracture in 2019. Using retrospective patient chart audits and a Data Extraction Form, the clinical data regarding the assessment, treatment, diagnosis, and follow-up outcomes were collected. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to assess current management and find out predictors of a scaphoid fracture. RESULTS: There was significance between practitioners performing physical assessments and providing treatment (P < .001). Physiotherapists performed assessment and education combined treatment more frequently than nurse practitioners and doctors. Thirty-four cases (11.7%) were negative for fracture in ED and positive in follow-up at the orthopedic clinic. There was an estimated loss of income of $327,433.60 (Australian dollar) for 221 patients who missed work due to overtreatment with immobilization. The strongest predictors for a confirmed scaphoid fracture were of male gender (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-5.0; P < .001) and a positive x-ray in ED (odds ratio, 36.6; 95% confidence interval, 17.4-77.0; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Management of scaphoid fractures across the Gold Coast Hospital Health Service ED followed commonly accepted practices involving x-ray and immobilization; however, this conservative approach to management is associated with increased health costs and low rates of conversion to a confirmed scaphoid fracture. Male gender was the only significant predictor associated with a scaphoid fracture.