Orthogeriatric model for hip fracture patients in Singapore: our early experience and initial outcomes

• Published in: Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery 2014-03, Vol.134 (3), p.351-357
• Main Authors: Doshi, Hitendra K., Ramason, Rani, Azellarasi, Josephine, Naidu, Ganesan, Chan, Wai Lim William
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - methods; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - standards; Female; Fractures; Health Services for the Aged; Hip Fractures - surgery; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Models, Organizational; Mortality; Orthopedics; Patients; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies; Singapore; Surgery; Trauma Surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0936-8051; 1434-3916
• DOI: 10.1007/s00402-013-1900-9

Introduction The aging population is growing rapidly in Asia resulting in an increased number of fragility fractures. Studies have shown that an integrated model of care for the elderly can improve the quality of patient care and outcomes. This report describes our concept, initial experience and short-term outcomes of the integrated model of care that was established in managing geriatric hip fractures in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. Patient and methods An integrated care pathway model was implemented. The principle of the model is based on (a) timely admission, review, surgery, rehabilitation, transfer, (b) multidisciplinary approach and (c) integration of a care manager. Hip fracture patients (>60 years) were included in our study and were followed up for 1 year. Demographic data, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), time to surgery, length of stay and modified Barthel index (MBI) scores were recorded. Results The mean age was 82 years (62–108) with a female predominance (75 %). The mean CCI was 1.8. Time to admission was 3.7 h and mean time taken to be reviewed by an integrated care manager was 21.7 h. Close to 40 % of patients were operated within 48 h with a median time to surgery of 36.7 h. Mean length of stay was 10 days with an inpatient and 1-year mortality rate of 2.3 and 5.9 %, respectively. Complication rate was 5.1 % (urinary tract infection and wound infection) and MBI scores at 1 year revealed significant functional improvement of 95 % ( p