UC San Diego

Background

Surgical patient hospital readmissions are costly to the health care system. The Affordable Care Act Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program introduced penalties for high hospital readmission rates. We performed a retrospective study evaluating factors associated with readmission in hand surgical inpatients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review on 566 patients admitted to a level 1 trauma center for hand trauma or infection from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019. Data included demographics, social history, medical problems, comorbidities, procedure details, and admission and readmission details. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with hospital readmission within 30 days.

Results

Cigarette smoking (P = .048), bite wound (P = .038), laceration wound (P = .028), laceration repair (P < .01), open reduction internal fixation (P = .041), and disposition to a skilled nursing facility (P = .017) were significantly associated with readmission to the hospital within 30 days. For patients who underwent emergency department interventions, alcohol use (P = .034), houselessness (P = .046), and malnutrition (P = .036) were additional factors associated with readmission.

Conclusions

Immediately irremediable factors such as tobacco and alcohol abuse, malnutrition, and houselessness should be considered as exemptions for penalties levied on health care systems for readmissions. Initiating targeted interventions, such as detoxification, smoking cessation, housing assistance, and improved nutrition, may reduce readmission risk and could improve patient outcomes.