Efficiency of a virtual fracture clinic review protocol in adult patients with distal radial fractures requiring semi-acute surgical treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of implementation of a Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC) review protocol on the time between injury and surgery, and on secondary healthcare utilization, in patients with Distal Radius Fractures (DRFs) requiring semi-acute surgery.

Methods

Data for this retrospective before-after study were gathered between April 2017 and March 2019 (Pre-VFC n = 269), and between April 2021 and March 2023 (VFC n = 440) in a large level 2 urban trauma center. The primary outcome was the number of days between injury and operation. Furthermore secondary healthcare utilization was assessed.

Results

The average time between injury and surgery was 11.0 days (95% CI: 10.6-11.5) before and 9.2 days (95% CI: 8.9-9.6) after VFC-implementatio

SUBMITTER: Salentijn DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11805890 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature