title: Implementation of a rib fracture triage protocol in elderly trauma patients.
abstract: Elderly patients are highly susceptible to rib fractures after trauma. The use of a clinical pathway to determine resource allocation for patients with rib fractures has resulted in positive treatment outcomes. This retrospective study assessed the efficacy of a triage protocol involving trauma services on hospital length of stay in elderly patients with fractured ribs. Patients who had 3 or more ribs fractured experienced a statistically significant reduction in hospital length of stay after protocol implementation. We conclude that elderly patients with 3 or more rib fractures should be systematically referred to a trauma specialist.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma Services, Department of Surgery, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines and The Iowa Clinic (Dr Sahr), Department of Surgery, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines (Dr Webb), Office of Research, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines (Dr Renner), Department of Emergency Medicine, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines and Health System Emergency Physicians (Dr Sokol), and Division of Trauma Services, Department of Surgery, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines and The Iowa Clinic (Dr Swegle), Des Moines, Iowa.
authors.forename: Sheryl M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sahr
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Catherine Hackett
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: Rachael K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sokol
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Swegle
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D019091:Critical Pathways; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D014193:Trauma Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards*