Introduction: Brought about by concerns of the maxillofacial team about waiting times for open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular fractures.

Aims: Produce data that may support the establishment of separate trauma lists in order to reduce hospital stay, financial constraints on National Health Service and increase patient satisfaction.

To determine whether weekend admission incurred a longer waiting time.

Prospective audit.

Method: Use of proforma to evaluate admission date, type of fracture, lag time till operation, length of stay and whether fracture was weekend admission. Audit limited to mandibular trauma.

Results: 50 mandibular fractures were treated. The mean length of stay was 3 days. The maximum time for fracture treatment was 5 days and the minimum time was 0 days. 19 patients were weekend admissions and these waited 2 days or more. The maximum time for fracture treatment was after weekend admission. The results will be presented with the use of graphs and histograms.

Conclusion: Fractures that presented just before the weekend and on the weekend are more likely to have a prolonged hospital stay due to difficulty to obtain operating slots as the majority of fractures are not life threatening. This results in a dissatisfied patient, theoretical risk of a higher incidence of infection and a greater financial burden on the hospital trust. With the results we have been able to negotiate a dedicated Sunday operating list to treat patients. We will continue to audit patients to see if the new list established reduces hospital stay for patients.

Conflict of interest: None declared.