Epidemiology of missed orthopaedic injuries in adult trauma patients at a rural tertiary trauma centre

Abstract

Introduction: Missed injuries is defined as an injury found after the initial complete patient assessment and diagnostic studies that was directly related to the traumatic event and was identified after first 24 hours following admission. Missed injuries increase the risk of death, result in significant long-term disability, are a common reason for litigation and embarrassment to the surgeon and institution. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study of 671 admissions in Orthopaedics indoor patients of Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences for the period of 10 months from 1st January 2016 to 31st October 2016. The patient notes and radiology reports was reviewed daily while each patient was an inpatient up to the end-point of discharge from hospital. Results: 18 patients out of 671 patients were identified with delayed diagnoses of the injury. Incidence rate of missed injury was 2.68%. The different parameters that were considered for this study are sex of patient, age, mechanism of injury, whether patient was under the influence of alcohol, GCS