Predictors of 30 day mortality following hip/pelvis fractures.
INTRODUCTION With the cost of healthcare in the United States reaching $2.9 trillion in 2013 and expected to increase with a growing geriatric population, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) began publicly reporting 30 day mortality rates so that hospitals and physicians may begin to confront clinical problems and promote high quality and patient centered care. Though the 30 day mortality is considered a highly effective tool in measuring hospital performance, little data actually exists that explores the rate and risk factors for trauma related hip and pelvis fractures. Therefore, in this study, we sought to explore the risk factors associated with 30 day mortality in trauma related hip and pelvic fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Utilizing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database, 341,062 patients undergoing orthopaedic procedures from 2005 to 2013 were identified through a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code search. A second CPT code search identified 24,805 patients who sustained a hip/pelvis fracture. Patient demographics, preoperative comorbidities, operative characteristics and postoperative complications were collected and compared using Chi squared test, Wilcoxon Mann Whitney test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Preoperative and postoperative risk factors for 30 day mortality following a hip/pelvis fracture were found: ASA classification, ascites, disseminated cancer, dyspnea, functional status, history of congestive heart failure (CHF) history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a recent blood transfusion, and the postoperative complications: pneumonia, myocardial infarction, stroke, and septic shock. DISCUSSION Several preoperative patient risk factors and postoperative complications greatly increased the odds for patient mortality following 30 days after initial surgery. Orthopaedic surgeons can utilize these predictive risk factors to better improve patient care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Retrospective study. Level IV.
Orthopaedics traumatology, surgery research OTSR