title: Operative delay for fracture of the hip: a two-centre prospective study.
abstract: We undertook a simultaneous prospective two-centre study to examine why patients with fractures of the proximal femur experience a delay in undergoing surgery. At centre 1, 23 of 105 patients (22%) suffered an avoidable delay, 18 (78%) because of a lack of theatre capacity while at centre 2, 71 of 130 patients (55%) had an avoidable delay, with 54 (76%) because of this cause. Miscellaneous reasons such as poor ward management, co-existing medical conditions, and lack of equipment were responsible for the remainder of the delays. Without a substantial increase in operating capacity for acute trauma, it will not be possible to comply with guidelines which recommend surgical treatment within 24 hours in elderly and vulnerable patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, West Suffolk NHS Trust, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Von Meibom
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gilson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhapre
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006302:Health Services Research; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors