Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postoperative Falls Following Foot and Ankle Surgery

BACKGROUND

No study has examined the incidence of risk factors for postoperative falls following foot and ankle surgery. We investigated the incidence and risk factors for postoperative falls in foot and ankle surgery using inpatient and outpatient population.

METHODS

A single fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon instituted collection of a postoperative fall questionnaire at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. A retrospective review of 135 patients with complete prospectively collected fall questionnaire data was performed. Patient demographic information, injury characteristics, comorbidities, baseline medications, length of hospital stay, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were collected. After univariable analysis, a multivariable binary logistic regression was conducted to assess independent risk factors for postoperative falls.

RESULTS

The median (interquartile range) age was 52 (21) and body mass index was 32.7 (11.1). A total of 108 patients (80%) underwent outpatient procedures. Thirty-nine of the 135 patients (28.9%) reported experiencing a fall in the first 6 weeks after surgery. In multivariable analysis, antidepressant use (adjusted odds ratio 3.41, 95% CI 1.19-9.81) and higher VAS pain scores at 2 weeks postoperatively (adjusted odds ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.08-1.50) were found to be independent risk factors for postoperative falls.

CONCLUSION

This study found a high incidence of postoperative falls in the first 6 weeks after foot and ankle surgery. Baseline antidepressant use and higher 2-week VAS pain scores were associated with postoperative falls. Foot and ankle surgeons should discuss the risk of falling with patients especially those with risk factors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective cohort study at a single institution.

Fast track surgery vs. conventional management in the perioperative care of retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy

OBJECTIVE

It has been demonstrated that fast track (FT) surgery can accelerate the recovery of the patients in limited urologic procedures, but there are no reports regarding FT surgery within retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RLA). This study aims at evaluating the impact of FT surgery on recovery after RLA.

METHODS

One hundred patients in our centre are randomly assigned to FT group and conventional group. The patients who have undergone RLA receive either conventional care or an FT recovery program. Surgical outcome, complications, gastrointestinal function, visual analogue scale (VAS) general state and VAS pain scores are compared between the two groups. In addition, white blood cell count, serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels are measured. Patients are discharged home when they meet discharge criteria.

RESULTS

Compared with the conventional group, the time of first flatus (18.97±8.45 vs. 37.66±17.17 h), initiation of normal diet (18.76±4.94 vs. 53.15±15.99 h), the time of first ambulation (19.64±6.23 vs. 51.89±18.19 h), length of post-operation hospital stay (2.35±0.87 vs. 5.23±1.62 d), duration of drainage (18.19±5.19 vs. 68.10±18.06 h) and catheter (17.19±4.49 vs. 60.83±25.53 h) are markedly shorter in FT group (P<0.01). Post-operative coughing pain scores at 2 h (1.00±0.61 vs. 1.42±1.18), 12 h (0.96±0.78 vs. 2.00±1.40), 24 h (1.10±0.97 vs. 4.22±1.53) and resting pain scores at 12 h (0.64±0.56 vs. 1.44±0.91), 24 h (0.66±0.63 vs. 1.22±0.86) are consistently lower in the FT group. The level of CRP, IL-6 at 2 h and 24 h post-operation are lower than that of control group, and white blood cell count is lower than conventional group at 24 h after surgery (P<0.01). FT patients have a overall higher level of post-operative VAS general state than conventional groups (P<0.01). Age, sex, tumor size and side, BMI, ASA score, operation time, blood loss and complications are similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

FT surgery within RLA shortens the length of post-operative hospital stay without increasing the postoperative complication, lowers patients' VAS pain scores, and reduces inflammatory response intensity and improves the general state. Therefore, FT can be applied feasibly and safely in RLA.