Implementation of a Multidisciplinary “Code Hip” Protocol is Associated with Decreased Time to Surgery and Improved Patient Outcomes

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to report outcomes data based on the implementation of a “Code Hip” protocol, a multidisciplinary approach to the care of fragility hip fracture patients focussing on medical optimization and early operative intervention. We hypothesized that implementation of this protocol would decrease time from presentation to surgical intervention and improve outcomes based on short term post-operative data. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients aged greater than 65 years old with a fragility hip fracture from October 2015 through June 2018. In addition to demographic and patient factors, we recorded time to surgery, type of surgical interventions performed, ability to ambulate in the post-operative period, 90-day post-operative complications and overall hospital cost. Results: There were 114 patients in the pre-Code Hip cohort and 132 patients in the post-Code Hip cohort. Demographic factors were not different between the 2 cohorts. Time from presentation to surgery in the post-Code Hip cohort was shorter at 23.1 ± 16.4 hours versus 33.2 ± 27.2 hours (p < 0.001). 30.3% of patients in the post-Code Hip cohort had at least one post-operative complication compared to 42.1% in the pre-Code Hip cohort (RR = 0.72, CI = 0.51 -1.01, p = 0.05). The post-Code Hip cohort had a significantly lower rate of hospital readmission (p = 0.04), unplanned reoperation (p = 0.02), surgical site infection (p = 0.03), and sepsis (p = 0.05). Total hospital cost per patient decreased from an average of $14,079 +/- $10,305 pre-Code Hip cohort to $11,744 +/- $4,174 per patient in the post-Code Hip cohort (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Implementation of our Code Hip protocol, which invokes a multidisciplinary approach to the elderly patient with a fragility hip fracture, is associated with shorter times from presentation to surgery, increased ability to ambulate post-operatively, decreased short term post-operative complication, and decreased hospital costs. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III

Evaluation of Systemwide Improvement Programs to Optimize Time to Surgery for Patients With Hip Fractures

“…190 studies underwent full-text review, and 69 studies were selected for final analysis (Figure and eAppendix 3 in the Supplement). Among the final 69 improvement programs, 49 programs significantly decreased TTS and 20 programs did not. Delayed TTS cutoffs were most often defined dichotomously as more than 24 hours, more than 36 hours, more than 48 hours, or more than 72 hours, although some studies collected continuous data.…”

“…190 studies underwent full-text review, and 69 studies were selected for final analysis ( Figure and eAppendix 3 in the Supplement ). 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 …”

“…190 studies underwent full-text review, and 69 studies were selected for final analysis (Figure and eAppendix 3 in the Supplement). Among the final 69 improvement programs, 49 programs significantly decreased TTS 33,35,38,41,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][51][52][53][54]56,57,[59][60][61][62][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][74][75][76][79][80][81][82][85][86][87][88]91,94,96,97,99,101,103 and 20 programs 39,40,42,50,…”

The Impact of Interhospital Transfer on the Extent of Neurological Recovery in Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Analysis of a Prospective Multicenter Data Set in 970 Cases

“…Taking from orthopedic literature, several programs have implemented multidisciplinary "code Hip" protocols that have shown decreased time to surgery, improved patient outcomes, reduced complications, and decreased hospital costs. 30 From cerebrovascular studies, the impact of interhospital transfer on neurological diseases such as stroke has been shown to result in delayed endovascular treatment and worse outcomes. 9 As a response, stroke rapidresponse protocols, also known as 'code stroke,' have shown success in increasing the rate of thrombolysis, 31,32 in which the transfer process to the stroke center and inside the hospital are expedited and optimized.…”

Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Preoperative Protocol for Geriatric Hip Fractures Improves Time to Surgery at a Level III Trauma Center

“…18 Hospitals that have implemented such protocols have demonstrated their efficacy in improving many factors such as TTS, LOS, post-operative complication rates, hospital readmissions, infections, cost per patient, and overall mortality. [19][20][21][22][23] Current data evaluating these protocols is predominantly from Level I trauma centers which have more resources and greater patient volume compared to smaller trauma centers. There is little data on the implementation of this type of protocol at smaller hospitals.…”