Initial Evaluation by a Nonoperative Provider Does Not Delay the Surgical Care of Operative Ankle Fractures in a Walk-in Orthopaedic Clinic

CATEGORY: Ankle, Trauma INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Walk-in and “afterhours” clinics are a common setting in which patients may seek care for musculoskeletal complaints. These clinics may be staffed by orthopaedic surgeons, nonsurgical physicians, advanced practice nurses, or physician assistants. If orthopaedic surgeons are more efficient than nonoperative providers at facilitating the care of operative injuries in this setting is unknown. This study assesses whether evaluation by a nonoperative provider delays the care of patients with operative ankle fractures compared to those seen by an orthopaedic surgeon in an orthopaedic walk-in clinic. METHODS: Following IRB approval, a cohort of patients who were seen in a walk-in setting and who subsequently underwent surgical treatment for an isolated ankle fracture were retrospectively identified. The cohort was divided based on whether the initial clinic visit had been conducted by an operative or nonoperative provider. A second cohort of patients who were evaluated and subsequently treated by a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon in their private practice was used as a control group. Outcome measures included total number of clinic visits before surgery, total number of providers seen, days until evaluation by treating surgeon, and days until definitive surgical management. RESULTS: 138 patients were seen in a walk-in setting and subsequently underwent fixation of an ankle fracture. 61 were seen by an orthopaedic surgeon, and 77 were seen by a nonoperative provider. No significant differences were found between the operative and nonoperative groups when comparing days to evaluation by treating surgeon (4.1 vs 4.5, p=.31), or days until definitive surgical treatment (8.4 vs 8.8, p=.58). 62 patients who were seen and treated solely in a single surgeon’s practice had significantly fewer clinic visits (1.11 vs 2.03 and 2.09, p<.05), as well as days between evaluation and surgery compared to the walk-in groups (5.44 vs 8.44 and 8.78, p<.05). CONCLUSION: Initial evaluation in a walk-in orthopaedic clinic setting is associated with a longer duration between initial evaluation and treatment compared to a conventional foot and ankle surgeon’s clinic, but this difference may not be clinically significant. Evaluation by a nonoperative provider is not associated with an increased duration to definitive treatment compared to an operative provider.