Epidemiological profile and length of hospital stay in emergency orthopedic surgeries

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal injuries are a major cause of hospital admissions. Evaluating the epidemiological profile of these patients and their length of hospital stay helps plan care strategies and optimize resources. Objective: To describe the primary reasons for referral to emergency orthopedic procedures and analyze the hospital stay duration of patients admitted to the Hospital Universitário Ciências Médicas during the first half of 2024. Methods: Retrospective cohort study analyzing electronic medical records of 551 patients admitted between January and June 2024. Data on age, sex, diagnosis, and length of stay were collected. Variables were described using frequencies and medians and analyzed according to the length of hospital stay categories. Results: The median age was 46 years, with a predominance of male patients (59%). The most frequent fractures involved the knee and leg (24%). The median length of stay was 4.8 days. Patients with femur fractures had a higher proportion of prolonged hospitalizations (>6 days). Conclusion: The analysis revealed a predominance of adult and elderly male patients, especially with fractures of the lower limbs. Length of stay was associated with fracture type, emphasizing the need for specific protocols tailored to each patient profile. Level of evidence III: Cohort study