The impact of in-hospital complications on the long-term functional outcome of trauma patients: A multicenter study

The relation between surgical approaches for pelvic ring and acetabular fractures and postoperative complications: a systematic review

Introduction

Although many articles report complications after pelvic ring and acetabular fracture surgery, a general overview of complication rates and potential risk factors is lacking. The current review provides a comprehensive summary of the complications after pelvic ring and acetabular fracture surgery in relation to the surgical approach.

Material and Methods

Pubmed and Embase databases were systematically searched using the key words: pelvic fracture, acetabular fracture, fixation, surgical approaches, complications, and their synonyms. Extracted data included patient and fracture characteristics, surgical approaches, and post-operative complications; surgical site infections (SSI), implant-related complications, malunion and non-union. Study data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Results

Twenty-two studies (twenty-one retrospective cohort studies, of which three comparative, and one randomized controlled trial) were included in this review. The overall complication rates reported for the included surgical approaches were: 17% for the (Modified) Stoppa approach, 11% for percutaneous fixation, 5% for the Kocher–Langenbeck approach, 7% for the ilioinguinal approach and 31% for external fixation. The most frequent complications were SSI (22%) and neurological (31%) complications, which were most often reported in patients treated with an external fixator. Re-operation rates were comparable for the surgical approaches (4–8%). Two studies reported on risk factors and identified concomitant traumatic injuries, prolonged ICU stay and high body mass index as risk factors for SSI.

Conclusion

External fixation of pelvic fractures is associated with highest complications rates including SSI’s and neurological complications. Although post-operative complications are frequently reported after pelvic fracture surgery, more studies are needed that identify potential risk factors. These will assist the surgeon in (pre)operative decision making and development of preventive strategies.

Error reduction in trauma care: Lessons from an anonymized, national, multicenter mortality reporting system

BACKGROUND

Twenty years ago, the landmark report To Err Is Human illustrated the importance of system-level solutions, in contrast to person-level interventions, to assure patient safety. Nevertheless, rates of preventable deaths, particularly in trauma care, have not materially changed. The American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program developed a voluntary Mortality Reporting System to better understand the underlying causes of preventable trauma deaths and the strategies used by centers to prevent future deaths. The objective of this work is to describe the factors contributing to potentially preventable deaths after injury and to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies identified by trauma centers to mitigate future harm, as reported in the Mortality Reporting System.

METHODS

An anonymous structured web-based reporting template based on the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations taxonomy was made available to trauma centers participating in the Trauma Quality Improvement Program to allow for reporting of deaths that were potentially preventable. Contributing factors leading to death were evaluated. The effectiveness of mitigating strategies was assessed using a validated framework and mapped to tiers of effectiveness ranging from person-focused to system-oriented interventions.

RESULTS

Over a 2-year period, 395 deaths were reviewed. Of the mortalities, 33.7% were unanticipated. Errors pertained to management (50.9%), clinical performance (54.7%), and communication (56.2%). Human failures were cited in 61% of cases. Person-focused strategies like education were common (56.0%), while more effective system-based strategies were seldom used. In 7.3% of cases, centers could not identify a specific strategy to prevent future harm.

CONCLUSION

Most strategies to reduce errors in trauma centers focus on changing the performance of providers rather than system-level interventions such as automation, standardization, and fail-safe approaches. Centers require additional support to develop more effective mitigations that will prevent recurrent errors and patient harm.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management, level V.

The effect of the Affordable Care Act on rates on inpatient rehabilitation hospital admission in a mature trauma system

BACKGROUND

The beneficial effects of acute rehabilitation for trauma patients are well documented but can be limited because of insurance coverage. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect on March 23, 2010. The ACA allowed patients who previously did not have insurance to be fully incorporated into the health system. We sought to analyze the likelihood of discharge to rehab for trauma patients before and after the implementation of the ACA. We hypothesized that there would be a higher rate of inpatient rehabilitation hospital (IRH) admission after the ACA was put into effect.

METHODS

The Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study (PTOS) database was retrospectively queried from 2003 to 2017 for all trauma patients admitted to accredited trauma centers in Pennsylvania, who also had a functional status at discharge (FSD). Admission to an IRH was determined using discharge destination. Two categories were created to represent periods before and after ACA was implemented, 2003 to 2009 (pre-ACA) and 2010-2017 (post-ACA). A multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model controlling for demographics, injury severity, and FSD assessed the adjusted impact of ACA implementation on IRH admissions.

RESULTS

From the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study query, 341,252 patients had FSD scores and of these patients, 47,522 (13.9%) were admitted to IRH. Patients who were severely injured were more likely to be admitted to IRH. Compared with FSD scores signifying complete independence at discharge, those with lower FSD had significantly increased odds of IRH admission. The odds of IRH admission post-ACA implementation significantly increased when compared with pre-ACA years (adjusted odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.17; p < 0.001; area under the receiver operating curve, 0.818).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of the ACA significantly increased the likelihood of discharge to IRH for trauma patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Care management, level III.

Long-term outcomes of psychoactive drug use in trauma patients: A multicenter patient-reported outcomes study

INTRODUCTION

Psychoactive drug use (PDU) is reported in up to 40% of trauma patients and is associated with a higher rate of in-hospital complications. However, little is known about its long-term impact on trauma patients. We aimed to assess the long-term functional, mental, and psychosocial outcomes of PDU in trauma patients 6 to 12 months after injury.

METHODS

Trauma patients with moderate to severe injuries (Injury Severity Score, >9) who had a toxicology screen upon admission to one of three level 1 trauma centers were contacted by phone 6 to 12 months postinjury. Psychoactive drug use was defined as the presence of a psychoactive, nonprescribed substance on toxicology screen including amphetamine, barbiturate, benzodiazepine, cannabinoid, methamphetamine, methadone, opioid, oxycodone, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), phencyclidine, tricyclic antidepressant, and cocaine. The interviews systematically evaluated functional limitations, social functioning, chronic pain, and mental health (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety). Patients with a score of ≤47 on the Short-Form Health Survey version 2.0 social functioning subdomain were considered to have social dysfunction. Multivariable regression models were built to determine the independent association between PDU and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 1,699 eligible patients, 571 (34%) were included in the analysis, and 173 (30.3%) screened positive for PDU on admission. Patients with PDU were younger (median age [interquartile range], 43 [28-55] years vs. 66 [46-78] years, p < 0.001), had more penetrating injuries (8.7% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.036), and were less likely to have received a college education (41.3% vs. 54.5%, p = 0.004). After adjusting for patients' characteristics including the presence of a baseline psychiatric comorbidity, patients with PDU on admission were more likely to suffer from daily chronic pain, mental health disorders, and social dysfunction 6 to 12 months after injury. There was no difference in the functional limitations between patients with and without PDU.

CONCLUSION

On the long term, PDU in trauma patients is strongly and independently associated with worse mental health, more chronic pain, and severe impairment in social functioning. A trauma hospitalization presents an opportunity to identify patients at risk and to mitigate the long-term impact of PDU on recovery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic/epidemiologic, level III.