[Orthopedic inpatients--an afflicted and complex patient group]

We studied all patients (n = 147) discharged from the orthopedic wards at Kärnsjukhuset, Skövde, during a four week period. Two thirds had been admitted via emergency rooms, were older, used more medicines and had more diagnoses than the elective patients, and they required a great deal of medical resources. 38% of the emergency patients did not require specific orthopedic care. 47% of these were more than 80 years of age, had several diagnoses, and had been in-patients in at least two departments during the past year. There is a need for enhanced cooperation and information between departments in order to better provide care for elderly patients with more than one diagnosis.