The Impact of Introducing a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Trauma Consultation Service to an Academic Level 1 Trauma Center.

OBJECTIVE: Previous retrospective studies suggest that early physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) consultation for trauma patients improves outcome and reduces acute care length of stay (LOS). There have not been controlled studies to evaluate this impact. This study assesses the impact of PM&R consultations on acute trauma patients.

DESIGN: This study compared measured outcomes before and after the introduction of a PM&R consultation service to the trauma program at a large academic hospital. The primary outcome measure was acute care LOS.

RESULTS: The 274 historical controls and 76 patients who received a PM&R consultation were not different in injury severity score, age, or sex. Length of stay was not different between the two groups. However, when early (≤8 days after injury) versus late (>8 days) consults were compared, the early group had a markedly lower LOS (12 vs. 30 days, P < 0.001). When adjusted for injury severity score, an early consult was associated with an 11.8-day lower LOS (P < 0.001). The early consult group also had fewer complications and less usage of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics.

CONCLUSIONS: An acute care PM&R consultation of 8 days or less after admission is associated with a shorter acute care LOS, fewer complications, and less use of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics.