Implementation of the Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules
Marjolein A M Mulders1, Monique M J Walenkamp2, Annelie Slaar3
1Trauma Unit, Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, P.O. Box 22660, Meibergdreef, 91105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.a.mulders@amc.nl.
Insights
Implementing the Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules significantly reduced wrist X-rays and emergency department wait times for pediatric wrist trauma. This clinical decision rule accurately identified 98% of clinically relevant fractures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Radiology Decision Support
- Clinical Implementation Studies
Background:
- The Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules were developed to decrease unnecessary wrist radiographs in children with wrist injuries.
- Previous validation studies support the rules' efficacy, but real-world impact requires evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of implementing the Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules in an emergency department setting.
- To evaluate the rules' impact on radiograph utilization and patient care.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study compared outcomes before and after rule implementation in pediatric patients (3-18 years) with acute wrist trauma.
- Primary outcome: change in wrist radiograph numbers. Secondary outcomes: missed fractures, emergency department length of stay, and physician compliance.
Main Results:
- A 19% absolute reduction in wrist radiographs was observed post-implementation (P<0.001).
- Patients without fractures discharged without radiographs had a 26-minute shorter ED stay (P=0.004).
- Eight fractures were missed, with only four deemed clinically relevant, indicating 98% accuracy for clinically significant fractures.
Conclusions:
- Implementation of the Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules effectively reduced wrist radiography and emergency department wait times.
- The rules demonstrated high accuracy in identifying clinically relevant distal forearm fractures, supporting their use in pediatric emergency care.
Background:
The Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules have been developed and validated to reduce wrist radiographs following wrist trauma in pediatric patients. However, the actual impact should be evaluated in an implementation study.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of implementation of the Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules at the emergency department.
Materials And Methods:
A before-and-after comparative prospective cohort study was conducted, including all consecutive patients aged 3 to 18 years presenting at the emergency department with acute wrist trauma. The primary outcome was the difference in the number of wrist radiographs before and after implementation. Secondary outcomes were the number of clinically relevant missed fractures of the distal forearm, the difference in length of stay at the emergency department and physician compliance with the Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules.
Results:
A total of 408 patients were included. The absolute reduction in radiographs was 19% compared to before implementation (chi-square test, P<0.001). Non-fracture patients who were discharged without a wrist radiograph had a 26-min shorter stay at the emergency department compared to patients who received a wrist radiograph (68 min vs. 94 min; Mann-Whitney U test, P=0.004). Eight fractures were missed following the recommendation of the Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules. However, only four of them were clinically relevant.
Conclusion:
Implementing the Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules resulted in a significant reduction in wrist radiographs and time spent at the emergency department. The Amsterdam Pediatric Wrist Rules were able to correctly identify 98% of all clinically relevant distal forearm fractures.
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