OBJECTIVES: Non-compliance with postoperative follow-up visits remains a common problem in orthopaedic trauma. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for loss of follow-up after orthopaedic trauma.
DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Urban level 1 academic trauma center. PATIENTS: A total of 307 (226 male / 81 female) patients undergoing surgical treatment of their orthopaedic injuries were included in this study. The average age was 40.4 ± 17 years. INTERVENTION: All patients were treated surgically for their orthopaedic injuries and were instructed to follow-up in the orthopaedic trauma clinic after hospital discharge. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Non-compliance with follow-up appointment at six month after injury.
RESULTS: Over a six-month postoperative period, a total of 215 patients were non-compliant with at least one of their follow-up appointments between hospital discharge and the six-month follow-up. A logistic regression showed male gender, uninsured or government insurance, and smoker to be statistically significant risk factors for non-compliance with the six-month follow-up (p<0.05). Non-compliance with any follow-up appointment was significantly increased in patients with illicit drug abuse (p = 0.02) as per logistic regression analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Loss of follow-up is a common problem in orthopaedic trauma. Our study suggests different risk factors for non-compliance including male gender, smoker, lack of commercial health insurance, and illicit drug abuse. Health care providers may consider establishing protocols for facilitating follow-up appointments to patients who are at risk for non-compliance.