Management of hip fractures pre- and post-Major Trauma Centre activation. Issue 10 (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wong, Ken; Rich, James; Yip, Grace; Loizou, Constantinos; Hull, Peter
• Is Part Of: Injury. Volume 46:Issue 10(2015)
• Page Start: 1975
• Page End: 1977
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Wounds and injuries -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Periodicals; Wounds and Injuries -- surgery -- Periodicals; Lésions et blessures -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 617.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2015.06.030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-1383

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Introduction</title> <p id="spar0005">In April 2012, the activation of the regional trauma networks in England was carried out to improve the organisation of trauma care. NHS Trusts that could meet the highest standard of care to complex trauma were designated Major Trauma Centres (MTCs). MTCs receive patients fulfilling certain triage criteria, as well as secondary transfers from nearby trauma units. While complex trauma care is streamlined with this new organisation, the impact this would have on the rest of the trauma workload within MTCs as well as non-MTC hospitals is uncertain. We investigate whether the management of hip fracture cases had suffered as a result of a trauma unit becoming a MTC.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Methods</title> <p id="spar0010">Summary data was collated from the National Hip Fracture Database website for the periods of April 2011–April 2012 (the 'pre-MTC' activation period) and April 2012–April 2013 (the 'post-MTC' activation period). As our primary outcome, we compared the time to surgery within 36 h between MTCs and non-MTCs for the periods detailed above. Other outcome measures were: reasons for delay to surgery, length of acute stay, proportion of cases meeting Best Practice Tariff criteria.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Results</title> <p id="spar0015">A total of 54, 897 and 55, 998 fNOF patients were included for all hospitals in England in the pre- and post-MTC periods respectively. For MTCs, a weighted mean average of 66.6% patients had surgery within 36 h in the pre-MTC period versus 71.4% of patients in the post MTC period (<italic>p</italic> < 0.0001). For non-MTCs, a weighted mean average of 70.0% of patients had surgery within 36 h in the pre-MTC period versus 73.8% of patients in the post-MTC period (<italic>p</italic> < 0.0001). Non-MTCs in both pre- and post-MTC activation periods were therefore better in percentage of patients receiving surgery within 36 h.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Discussion</title> <p id="spar0020">The data presented suggests that the creation of MTCs has not had a deleterious effect on the management of hip fracture patients. This paper aims to stimulate the important discussion of maintaining a consistently improving standard throughout the spectrum of trauma care, in conjunction with the development of regional Major Trauma Networks.</p> </sec> </abstract>