A retrospective review published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma shows several risk factors for noncompliance with postoperative follow-up after orthopedic trauma.
Here are four key facts:
1. Some of the risk factors are male gender, smoking, lack of commercial health insurance and illicit drug abuse.
2. Researchers recorded data on 307 patients with an average age of 40 years who underwent surgical treatment of orthopedic injuries at a level 1 academic trauma center. The patients were instructed to follow up at the orthopedic trauma clinic after their hospital discharge.
3. The main outcome measure of the study was noncompliance with follow-up appointments during a period of six months after injury.
4. Results showed 215 patients were noncompliant with at least one of their follow-up appointments at two weeks, six weeks, 12 weeks or six months. Those who were male, smoked, used drugs and lacked commercial insurance showed a statistically significant difference.