CFP
HOME HELP CONTACT US FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES SEARCH
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Can Fam Physician
Vol. 55, No. 10, October 2009, pp.1006 - 1007.e5
Copyright © 2009 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada
This Article
Right arrow Résumé
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Rapid Responses: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rouleau, D. M.
Right arrow Articles by Parent, S.
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Rouleau, D. M.
Right arrow Articles by Parent, S.
Related Collections
Right arrow Résumés de recherche

Research

Delay to orthopedic consultation for isolated limb injury

Cross-sectional survey in a level 1 trauma centre

Dominique M. Rouleau, MD MSC FRCSC, Debbie Ehrmann Feldman, PT PHD and Stefan Parent, MD PHD FRCSC
Dr Rouleau is an orthopedic surgeon in upper limb reconstruction and traumatology and Dr Parent is an orthopedic surgeon in pediatric and adult spine surgery, both in the Orthopaedic Department at Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur in Montreal, Que. Dr Ehrmann Feldman is a Physiotherapist and a teacher at the University of Montreal

Correspondence: Dr Dominique Rouleau, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, Orthopedie, 5400 Gouin Blvd W, Montreal, QC H4J 1C5; telephone 514 338-2222-2060; fax 514 338-3661; e-maildominique_rouleau{at}yahoo.ca

OBJECTIVE To describe referral mechanisms for referral to orthopedic surgery for isolated limb injuries in a public health care system and to identify factors affecting access.

DESIGN Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING Orthopedic surgery service in a level 1 trauma centre in Montreal, Que.

PARTICIPANTS We conducted a prospective study of 166 consecutive adults (mean age 48 years) referred to orthopedic surgery for isolated limb injuries during a 4-month period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported data on the nature of the trauma, the elapsed time between injury and orthopedic consultation, the number and type of previous primary care consultations, sociodemographic characteristics, and the level of satisfaction with care.

RESULTS Average time between the injury and orthopedic consultation was 89 hours (range 3 to 642), with an average of 68 hours (range 0 to 642) for delay between primary care consultation and orthopedic consultation. A total of 36% of patients with time-sensitive diagnoses had unacceptable delays to orthopedic consultation according to the Quebec Orthopaedic Association guidelines. Lower limb injury, consulting first at another hospital, living far from the trauma centre, patient perception of low severity, and having a soft tissue injury were associated with longer delays.

CONCLUSION Identifying gaps and risk factors for slower access might help improve referral mechanisms for orthopedic consultation.






HOME HELP CONTACT US FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES SEARCH
Copyright © 2009 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada.