Pressure for beds--does it put our orthopaedic patients at risk?

High occupancy rates of NHS beds has meant that increasing numbers of trauma patients find themselves on non-orthopaedic wards. Nursing staff on these wards may not have the specialist training to nurse such patients and may not recognise complications should they arise. The failure to recognise compartment syndrome was highlighted in a Clinical Governance meeting, leading to an assessment of nursing awareness of this condition.

Fifty orthopaedic trained nurses and a matched cohort of 50 non-orthopaedic trained nurses were asked a series of questions relating to compartment syndrome.

The majority of non-orthopaedic nurses failed to recognise the signs of early compartment syndrome.

Compartment syndrome is a limb-threatening condition which requires prompt recognition. Patients at risk should be nursed in an appropriate environment.