Appropriateness of patient transfer with associated orthopaedic injuries to a Level I trauma center.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively evaluate the appropriateness, indications, risk factors, and epidemiology of patients with orthopaedic injuries transferred to a Level I trauma center.


METHODS
Prospective data were supplemented through chart review on all patients transferred to a Level I trauma center with orthopaedic injuries (n = 546) from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2007. The accepting orthopaedic trauma surgeon evaluated the appropriateness of transfer by visual analog scale.


METHODS
A Level I trauma center.


METHODS
Patients transferred to the trauma center requiring orthopaedic trauma service involvement.


METHODS
Demographics and visual analog scale appropriateness scores were collected on each patient.


RESULTS
The authors considered 16.5% of the cohort inappropriate transfers, 49.3% appropriate, and the remaining 34.2% were designated as intermediate. The transfers came from an emergency department physician in 81% of cases, an orthopaedic surgeon in 14% of cases, and 5% by general surgeon or internist. One hundred forty-eight cases transferred primarily as a result of orthopaedic injuries had an available orthopaedic surgeon on-call at the original institution. Sixty percent were transferred as a result of orthopaedic injury complexity, but only 39% of the 148 were evaluated by an actual orthopaedic surgeon before transfer. Lack of orthopaedic coverage at the referring hospital accounted for 27% of transfers.


CONCLUSIONS
A total of 16.5% of transfers were deemed completely inappropriate by the accepting orthopaedic traumatologist. Most transfers, both appropriate and inappropriate, were attributed to either complete lack of orthopaedic coverage or a lack of expertise at the referring center.
Crichlow
Renn J
RJ
OrthoIndy, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Zeni
Amer
A
Reveal
Greg
G
Kuhl
Mitchell
M
Heisler
Jason
J
Kaehr
David
D
Vijay
Palaniswamy
P
Musapatika
Dana L
DL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult