Virtual fracture clinic-two year follow up of paediatric patients directly discharged from emergency department with orthopaedic injuries

Abstract

The Trauma Assessment Clinic (TTAC) has been in existence since 2016. TRH serves a population across of approximately 292,000. The patient service provided by the TTAC aims to promote patient self- care of certain fracture patterns. The focus of this review was the discharge of two paediatric fractures : clavicular fractures and radial buckle fractures.

We reviewed all paediatric patients referred to the consultant-led virtual fracture clinic over a six-month period between 2015/2016. The patient group for this study was contacted two years following their initial injury. Thirty-nine patients were identified fitting the TTAC criteria. Parents of all these patients were surveyed in relation to their satisfaction with the TTAC. Thirty parents (30) completed the telephone survey.

Twenty-one parents (70%) advised that they would have had to organise childcare to care for other children and twenty-six parents (87%) stated that they would need time off from work to attend the out- patient department. No parents surveyed brought their children to ED or to their General Practitioner (GP) during the treatment after injury. Twelve parents (40%) either strongly agreed (11) or agreed (1) that they would have preferred a face-to-face appointment.

Discharge of patients by the TTAC using VFC protocols results in high levels of patient and parent satisfaction. A significant number of parents (40%) expressed a preference for a face-to face consultation. TTAC should expand the service but should instigate education sessions within the hospital group and increase public awareness of VFC principles.