Waiting for surgery after hip fracture-Health and/or economic risk?

Objectives: Waiting for surgery is a disconcerting experience. It can have a negative impact on patients' outcomes and length of stay (LOS) as driver for treatment costs. Process-optimisation may be a strategy to improve quality and cost-efficacy. The study investigates the correlation between waiting for hip fracture surgery and patient characteristics, organisational variables, outcomes, LOS, and the distribution of waiting times and LOS over time, including cost estimates. Thereby the study aims to identify the potential for organisational improvements with respect to managing the waiting time.

Methods: Ten-year routine health data (patient characteristics and follow-up information) and process-indicators that is, waiting time and LOS from a Swiss trauma-centre were analysed retrospectively. Cost-estimates were calculated based on Swiss diagnosis related groups and daily costs to evaluate hospital revenues.

Results: In total, 2572 patients aged ≥60 years with low-energy hip fractures were included. Waiting times >48 h were associated with sub-optimal outcomes. Over the years long waiting times decreased. This reduction was not reflected by a reduction in LOS which remained stable around 10 days, primarily driven by late discharge to in-patient rehabilitation. Reimbursement persisted at an average revenue in the low 4-5-digit range, depending on implant costs.

Conclusions: While there has been a reduction of waiting times, this has not translated into a reduction of LOS or potential savings in health care costs, due to the various dependencies along the patient journey. Managing waiting times may be an area for improvement, increasing cost-efficacy, especially since long waiting times are still associated with inferior outcomes and LOS.