• Reiner Wirbel, Ahmad Yacoub, and Marius Dehne.
• Surgery II: Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Verbundkranhenhause Bernkastel-Wittlich, Wittlich, Germany, reiner.wirbel@web.de.
• Int Orthop. 2014 Nov 1; 38 (11): 2369-75.

PurposeThe frequency, type and consequences of errors in orthopaedic and trauma surgery procedures should be analysed.MethodsIn a level II trauma centre, errors and intraoperative complications were prospectively recorded concerning type, severity, preventability and consequences. The error-related time delay was also noted.ResultsIn 2012, 984 operative cases could be evaluated over six months: 744 elective and 240 emergency procedures. A total 107 errors (10.8%) in 72 procedures were recorded. There were 78 nonmedical/organisational, nine medical and 20 combined errors. Clinical consequences were seen in 1% of errors. The error rate was higher in emergency procedures. Time delays were involved in two thirds of the errors (on average 8.5 minutes).ConclusionTypical patient- and procedure-related errors can be detected by consequent documentation and analysis. It may help to develop sufficient strategies of error prevention. Because of the often-seen time delay, error prevention may help save time and costs.

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