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- Sheryl M Sahr, Michael L Webb, Catherine Hackett Renner, Rachael K Sokol, and James R Swegle.
- Division of Trauma Services, Department of Surgery, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines and The Iowa Clinic (Dr Sahr), Department of Surgery, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines (Dr Webb), Office of Research, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines (Dr Renner), Department of Emergency Medicine, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines and Health System Emergency Physicians (Dr Sokol), and Division of Trauma Services, Department of Surgery, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines and The Iowa Clinic (Dr Swegle), Des Moines, Iowa.
- J Trauma Nurs. 2013 Oct 1;20(4):172-5; quiz 176-7.
AbstractElderly patients are highly susceptible to rib fractures after trauma. The use of a clinical pathway to determine resource allocation for patients with rib fractures has resulted in positive treatment outcomes. This retrospective study assessed the efficacy of a triage protocol involving trauma services on hospital length of stay in elderly patients with fractured ribs. Patients who had 3 or more ribs fractured experienced a statistically significant reduction in hospital length of stay after protocol implementation. We conclude that elderly patients with 3 or more rib fractures should be systematically referred to a trauma specialist.
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