Inpatient hip fractures: understanding and addressing the risk of this common injury.

INTRODUCTION: The impact and outcome of hip fractures are well described for people living in the community, but inpatient hip fracture (IHF) have not been extensively studied. In this study, we examine the patient characteristics, common falls risk factors and clinical outcomes of this condition. METHODS: Between January 2016 and December 2017, we analysed all inpatient falls that resulted in hip fracture within Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) in Wales. RESULTS: The overall falls rate was 8.7/1000 occupied bed days (OBD). Over the 2 years, 118 patients sustained an IHF, giving a rate of 0.12/1000 OBD. The mean age was 81.8 ± 9.5 (range 49-97) years and 60% were women. Most patients (n = 112) were admitted from their own home. Mean Charlson Comorbidity Index and the number of medications on admission were 5.5 ± 1.9 and 8.5 ± 3.7, respectively.Fifty-three patients (45%) sustained the IHF following their first inpatient fall. Twenty-four IHF (20%) occurred within 72 h. Mean length of stay was 84.9 ± 55.8 days. Only 43% were discharged back to their original place of residence following an IHF; 27% were discharged to a care home (26 new care home discharges), and 30% died as an inpatient. One-year mortality was 54% (n = 64/118). The most common comorbidity was dementia (63%). CONCLUSION: Mortality and need for care home placement are both much higher after IHF than following community hip fracture. Most people who suffer a hip fracture in hospital have already demonstrated their need for falls risk management by having fallen previously during the same admission.

The Applicability of New Orleans Criteria for Head Computed Tomography in Inpatient Falls With Injury.

BACKGROUND: Inpatient falls are a patient safety concern. Limited data exist on the utility of head computed tomography (CT) for inpatient falls. The New Orleans Criteria (NOC) is a validated tool to determine the appropriateness of neuroimaging in the emergency department for falls with minor head injury. This study aimed to evaluate whether the NOC could be applied to inpatient falls. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study assessed 1 year of inpatient falls with injury at 5 inpatient facilities. Records were reviewed for demographic data, fall circumstances, laboratory results, components of the NOC, and head CT results. Cohorts included positive NOC (≥1 NOC finding) and negative NOC. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the NOC alone, NOC plus coagulopathy, and NOC or coagulopathy for acute intracranial process. RESULTS: Of 332 inpatient falls with injury, 188 (57%) received a head CT. Of the 250 (75.3%) NOC-positive cases, 159 (63.6%) received a head CT. Of all patients who received a head CT, 7 (2.1%) showed a significant acute intracranial process. The NOC was positive in 6 of the 7 cases (sensitivity 85.7% and specificity 23.8%); the other case had a significant coagulopathy. New Orleans Criteria or coagulopathy had 100% sensitivity and 23.4% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that use of the NOC to evaluate potential intracranial injury in inpatient falls is limited. Adding criteria to the NOC may improve its test characteristics, with a sensitivity of 100% for the NOC or coagulopathy, suggesting potential clinical utility.