Incidence and root causes of cancellations for elective orthopaedic procedures: a single center experience of 17,625 consecutive cases

Table 1 Reasons for cancellations 2007-2011

	2007	2008		2009		2010		2011		Total
Reason*	Sum	%	Sum	%	Sum	%	Sum	%	Sum	%	Sum	%
1. Planned surgery was transferred	614	6.2	429	4.3	430	4.4	859	8.7	553	5.6	2885	29.3
2. Patient refrained from surgery	350	3.5	338	3.4	279	2.8	356	3.6	349	3.5	1672	17
3. Patient refrained from surgery for social reasons	254	2.5	381	3.8	308	3.1	353	3.6	325	3.3	1621	16.5
4. Incomplete pre-operative preparations	154	1.5	289	2.9	205	2.1	282	2	251	2.6	1181	12
5. Changes to the scheduled surgical programme	148	1.5	109	1.1	136	1.4	314	3.2	162	1.6	869	8.8
6. On-going infection	157	1.6	144	1.5	170	1.7	114	1.2	101	1	686	7
7. Medical reasons	52	0.5	95	1	84	0.9	116	1.2	142	1.4	488	5
8. Lack of personnel	56	0.6	37	0.4	35	0.4	74	0.8	53	0.5	255	2.6
9. Patient deceased or pregnant	19	0.2	16	0.2	17	0.2	32	0.3	11	0.1	95	1
10. Missing equipment	6	0.1	4	0	4	0	16	0.2	15	0.1	43	0.4
11. Lack of ward space	4	0	9	0.1	24	0.2	1	0	0	0	38	0.4
	1814	18.4	1851	18.8	1692	17.2	2517	25.6	1962	19.9	9836	100

*Reasons for cancellation.
1. The planned surgery was transferred to another caregiver.
2. The patient refrained from surgery at the clinic, chose another hospital or abstained from surgery.
3. The patient refrained from surgery for social reasons.
4. Incomplete pre-operative preparations.
5. Changes to the scheduled surgical programme.
6. On-going infection(s) on the ward or the patient personally.
7. Medical reasons.
8. Lack of personnel.
9. The patient deceased or pregnant.
10. Missing equipment.
11. Lack of ward space.

ISSN: 1754-9493