The objective of this study was to develop a risk stratification index (RSI) system to guide intensive care unit (ICU) resource use for elderly patients after hip fracture surgery. The authors' first study cohort consisted of 302 elderly patients with hip fractures who had surgical treatment at their hospital. The authors conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis to investigate relevant risk factors for ICU resource utilization postoperatively. An RSI system was developed based on the significant risk factors from regression analysis. A second study cohort consisted of 205 elderly patients, among whom the authors applied the RSI system to guide ICU resource assignment. Among the first cohort of 302 hip fracture patients, 89 were transferred to ICU postoperatively, of whom 81 were planned to be transferred to ICU and 8 were not. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that age (≥80 years), preoperative pulmonary disease, perioperative anemia (hemoglobin <8 g/dL), and perioperative lactic acid level (>2 mmol/L) were independent risk factors for postoperative ICU management. The authors then constructed a weighted RSI with these risk factors. In addition, they manually added American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (III/IV) and types of anesthesia as additional risk factors based on their clinical experience. It was determined that an RSI score greater than 4 required postoperative ICU care. The RSI system was then prospectively applied to an independent cohort of 205 elderly surgical patients with hip fractures, among whom only 40 required ICU care. More importantly, there were no later transfers from the general ward to ICU after the application of RSI. The RSI system is effective for guiding postoperative ICU transfer without compromising patient care and minimizes unexpected transfers from the general ward to the postoperative ICU. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(3):e159-e165.].
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