403 The Difficulties of Managing Trauma in Elderly Patients in a West of Scotland Trauma Unit. (28th February 2022) - Nair, G.
Abstract: Aim: An increasing number of elderly patients require admission to Trauma & Orthopaedic units throughout Scotland with admissions often complex and lengthy. We aimed to assess the current standard of care within a west of Scotland trauma unit against the 2019 British Orthopaedic Associations Standard of Care (BOAST) - "The care of the older or frail orthopaedic trauma patient" and devise a multi-disciplinary quality improvement strategy. Method: All patients over the age of 65 admitted to the Trauma & Orthopaedic department of the University Hospital Wishaw between the 1 st -14 th of August 2020 were included. Online medical records were assessed and compared to the BOAST guideline. Results were presented to Orthopaedic and Care of the elderly (COTE) team and postgraduate teaching before being re-audited from 1 st -14 th May 2021. Data was analysed using Chi- Squared test. Results: Cycle one vs Cycle two: Falls risk assessment was carried out in 50/57(87.7%) vs 49/57(86.0%); Nutritional assessment carried out in 53/57(93.0%) vs 50/57(87.7%); Delirium assessment carried out in 54/57(94.7%) vs 47/57(82.5%). More patients were reviewed by Acute Care of the Elderly nurses 24/57(42.1%) vs 30/57(52.6%). No significant improvement was seen in the percentage of patients reviewed by a COTE consultant:15/57(26.3%) vs 17/57(29.8%) (P = 0.68). Conclusions: Both cycles show good concordance with the BOAST criteria, including physiotherapy reviews, falls and delirium assessment, however significant deficiencies exist, including the provision of COTE input. This has prompted a reconfiguration of orthogeriatric input for trauma patients, with significant investment in the recruitment of COTE medical staff.