title: [IT-based clinical pathway as a routine tool in trauma surgery].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today clinical pathways are established as a basis for the operational and organizational structure of surgical, interventional and conservative treatment in many hospitals. In our study we evaluate the establishment and systematic applicability of IT-based clinical pathways in a tertiary care facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluate and compare the treatment of coxarthrosis with hip joint endoprosthesis either following an IT-based clinical pathway or without clinical pathway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients who had received a hip joint endoprosthesis from 1 January 2006 to 31 October 2009 were included. The duration of stay is significantly longer in the group without pathway. Furthermore there was a significant increase in the documentation of wound inspection after surgery in the "pathway patients". The preoperative urinalysis was done significantly more often in the pathway group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IT-based clinical pathways are applicable for routine use in trauma departments. For certain surgical procedures they are a suitable management device, even in a tertiary care facility. Clinical pathways lead to an improved operational structure of medical treatment and moreover to a complete and continuous documentation through the electronic file.
authors.affiliation: BG-Kliniken Bergmannstrost, Merseburger Straße 165, 06112, Halle/Saale, Deutschland. Lars.Homagk@bergmannstrost.com
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Homagk
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Deml
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Hofmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014194:Traumatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome