Age as a predictive factor for in-patient admission following day-case shoulder arthroscopic sub-acromial decompression - a district general hospital audit.
BACKGROUND
Admission following day-case surgery can be problematic for both the patient and the health service. The purpose of this study was to identify any factors predictive of admission following arthroscopic sub-acromial decompression (ASAD) of the shoulder planned as day-case procedures.


METHODS
A postal questionnaire provided data for 27 patients undergoing ASAD as a day-case procedure between June 2002 and June 2004.


RESULTS
Eighteen (66.7%) questionnaires were returned. Of respondents, 38.9% (mean age, 58 years) felt the procedure required in-patient admission due to postoperative pain. These patients had an older mean age than those (61.1%) content with a day-case procedure (mean age, 49 years; P = 0.04). Of patients 55 years and older, 67% felt that the procedure should have an in-patient admission due to postoperative pain compared to 11% of patients under the age of 55 years (P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Patient age may be useful as a predictor of the likelihood of postoperative admission for pain control following day-case shoulder surgery and should be taken into account when planning day case lists.
Jain
N P M
NP
Department of Orthopaedics, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK. npmjain@hotmail.com
Ogonda
L
L
Trimmings
N P
NP
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires