Emergency Department Visits After Hand Surgery Are Common and Usually Related to Pain or Wound Issues

As payment models shift toward a focus on value and reimbursement becomes increasingly tied to quality and patient experience, minimizing unexpected acute health needs has become a priority for both policymakers and clinical leaders. Despite recent emphasis on emergency department (ED) visits as a quality measure in surgery, little is known about the role of the ED in the early postoperative period after hand surgery.

The purpose of this study was to determine the rates, reasons, and factors associated with ED visits within 30 days of elective outpatient hand surgery.

Using our institutional database for 2009 through 2013, we assessed ED visit rates for 2332 patients undergoing carpal tunnel or trigger finger release. Medical records were manually reviewed to ascertain the primary reason for the ED visit. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors independently associated with ED use.

A total of 67 patients (3%) experienced at least one ED visit within 30 days of hand surgery (carpal tunnel: 3%; trigger finger: 3%). Most visits (66%) occurred within the first 2 weeks of surgery, and 31% led to hospitalization. The most common reasons for ED visits were pain (18%) and wound issues (16%). Unmarried and medically infirm patients were more likely to visit the ED.

ED visits after hand surgery are common, often related to the procedure, and potentially responsive to quality improvement initiatives. Targeted efforts to educate patients about pain management, wound care, and the expected course of recovery before surgery, together with close postoperative contact (eg, routine phone calls, facsimile correspondence by email, or secure messaging) may limit visits to the ED.

Level IV, prognostic study.