Why does length of stay vary for orthopaedic surgery?

This study examines the variation in length of stay in orthopaedic surgery in Grampian in 1988. It highlights the extent of variability across clinicians for patients with the same condition. The results indicate the importance of patient's age, type of admission and Diagnosis-Related Group. The inclusion of variables to identify the consultant in charge significantly improves the explanatory power of the model for all of the seven conditions investigated.