Outpatient orthopaedic trauma surgery: is it safe?

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Trauma Care
• Pain Management

Background:

• Implementation of the 2019 Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) Guidelines for Musculoskeletal Pain.
• Management of primary and revision orthopaedic trauma cases in an outpatient setting.
• Standardized pain management protocols involving regional anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate outcomes of outpatient operative fracture management.
• To assess complication rates, emergency department visits, and reoperations.
• To analyze patient satisfaction with pain control and medication management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of 88 adult patients undergoing surgery for fractures.
• Data collected via retrospective chart review at a Level 1 trauma center's outpatient facility.
• Analysis of primary outcomes (complications, ED visits, reoperations) and secondary outcomes (office calls, pain complaints, refills).

Main Results:

• 77% of patients received regional anesthesia.
• 8% of patients (10 encounters) presented to the emergency department within 30 days, with most related to the injury.
• 4 ED visits were for pain, none requiring admission; 76% of office calls were for medication refills.

Conclusions:

• Complex orthopaedic trauma can be managed effectively in an outpatient setting.
• Careful patient selection is crucial for successful outpatient treatment.
• Regional anesthesia and appropriate pain management are key to ensuring patient safety and comfort.