Table 1.

Differences in typical sign-out tasks and other patient features, contrasting orthopaedic trauma and adult reconstruction patients

Task	Orthopaedic trauma	Adult reconstruction
Need to address weightbearing status	Often (dependent on injury pattern and attending preferences)	Rare
Need to make preoperative plans or initiate clearance while in hospital	Often (many patients return to the operating room during index admission)	Rare
Need to address anticoagulation orders and status	Variable (ranges from nothing to various pharmaceuticals to Greenfield filters)	Always
Need to obtain medicine consultation (versus need to address primary medical problems directly)	Variable (based on age and comorbidities)	Almost always
Need to monitor hemoglobin	Variable	Almost always
Need to obtain inpatient radiology services	Frequent, highly variable	Rare, beyond first postoperative film
Need to request durable medical goods	Highly variable (injury pattern and treatment dictate needs)	Many (eg, continuous passive motion machine, walker, bedside commode), but almost always anticipated by protocol
Age range	16–90 years old	60–80 years old
Primary service	Usually “general trauma” service	Usually orthopaedics
Comorbidities	Unknown; not controlled	Frequent, controlled
Complications	Many, variable	Well defined