Improvements in networking processes for hip or knee revision arthroplasty: a silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in outcomes following hip and knee revision arthroplasties have been demonstrated following the introduction of specialised orthopaedic services in the form of 'hub and spoke' networking models. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, these networks have undergone some inevitable adaptations. We investigated the impact of recent adaptations on the performance of our regional revision arthroplasty network. METHODS: A retrospective review of all referrals that were discussed at our regional revision arthroplasty meeting, over 2 separate phases, was undertaken. Phase 1 included data between March 2018 and April 2019, representing an interval prior to COVID-19 pandemic. Phase-2 included data between September 2020 and March 2021 (during COVID-19 pandemic). Data were collected from East Midland South Orthopaedic Network (EMSSON) database and included data relating to indication and time to revision surgery, surgeon's proposal plan, network proposal plan, and executed definitive plan. We compared and analysed network performance between 2 phases. RESULTS: In phase 1, 99 cases were discussed in EMSSON meetings, equating to 35.7% of the region's revision arthroplasty volume, according to the National Joint Registry (NJR) records. Plan alterations were recommended in 48/99 cases (48.5%), of which 41/48 (85.4%) were adhered to. Phase 2 included 98 discussed cases, equating to 81.6% of the region's revision arthroplasty volume. Plan alterations were recommended in 20/98 cases (20.4%), all of which were adhered to (100%). Adherence to recommended adaptations showed significant improvement (p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Based upon our observations, a greater volume and proportion of revision arthroplasty cases are now being discussed. Adherence to MDT recommendations has significantly improved following the described adaptations. The number of recommended adaptations to management plans have decreased, indicating an educational value of the network.Overall, these findings demonstrate a trend towards NHS England's target of 100% of revision arthroplasty cases undergoing MDT discussion.

Use of patient reported experience measure and patient reported outcome measures to evaluate differences in surgical or non-surgical management of humeral shaft fractures.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of patient reported experience measures (PREMs) in humeral shaft fractures managed with or without surgery against patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). Methods: Adult patients treated for a humeral shaft fracture between June 2015 and August 2017 were included in non-surgery and surgery (early and late surgery) groups. The PREM questionnaire was based on patient and clinician feedback obtained during focus groups and was posted to patients. PROMs included the short form-12 (SF-12) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, stiffness, function and satisfaction. Results: Eighty-one patients responded, 54 patients were treated in a brace and 27 with surgery (13 early, 14 late). There was moderate positive correlation between PREM and VAS satisfaction and function and moderate negative correlation with VAS pain and stiffness. There was also moderate positive correlation between PREM and SF-12 mental and weak positive correlation with SF-12 physical. The late surgery group had poorer PREMs (expectations, p = 0.002 and friends & family test, p = 0.0001) and PROMs (VAS satisfaction, p = 0.005) compared to the early surgery group. Conclusions: PREMs can be used in conjunction with PROMs to improve the patient's quality of care and as a means of identifying, at an early stage, those patients not doing well and to offer surgery.

Reducing Blood Transfusions in Primary Total Hip Replacement Patients: Effectiveness of Near-patient Testing and a Dedicated Preoperative Anemia Clinic.

Objective Preoperative anemia in orthopedic patients is associated with higher allogeneic blood transfusion rates and poorer outcomes. Up to 25% of the patients listed for major orthopedic surgery have some degree of anemia. Good perioperative patient blood management is essential to reduce the sequelae of anemia and the need for transfusions. We assessed the efficacy of rapid near-patient testing in conjunction with a dedicated preoperative anemia clinic for screening and treating primary total hip replacement (THR) patients for anemia. Methods A comparison of overall allogeneic blood transfusion rates was made for patients undergoing primary total hip replacement before and after the implementation of near-patient testing and of a dedicated preoperative anemia clinic over 1 year. A comparison was also performed between anemic patients who were referred to the clinic with those who were not referred. Preoperative hemoglobin levels, allogeneic blood transfusion rates and clinic treatment for 1,095 patients were reviewed. Results There was a significant decrease in transfusion rates in patients undergoing primary THR from 10.0 to 6.2% ( p < 0.05; χ2 test) after the implementation of near-patient testing and of a dedicated preoperative anemia clinic pathway. The allogeneic blood transfusion rate for anemic patients who were treated in the clinic was 6.7% compared with 26.9% for patients who were anemic preoperatively but were not treated in the clinic ( p < 0.05; Fisher exact test). On average, treatment in the pathway increased the hemoglobin of the patients by 20 g/L, from 104 g/L to 124 g/L ( p < 0.001). Conclusions Near-patient testing, in conjunction with a dedicated preoperative anemia clinic, reduces perioperative allogenic blood transfusion requirements for patients undergoing primary THR by providing rapid identification and effective treatment of preoperative anemia.

Immediate haemoglobin testing in association with a dedicated anaemia clinic: Effectiveness for primary total knee replacement patients.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative anaemia is associated with higher transfusion rates, increased hospital stays and poorer outcomes. Addressing preoperative anaemia is a crucial pillar of Patient Blood Management. Conventionally, patients are listed for surgery and then screened for anaemia in the pre-assessment clinic, followed by referral to their general practitioner. This process involves substantial delays, and poorly treated anaemia often results in perioperative transfusions. We assessed our pathway of immediate haemoglobin testing at the time of listing in conjunction with a dedicated preoperative anaemia clinic for detecting and treating anaemia in primary total knee replacement patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared transfusion rates between anaemic patients undergoing a primary total knee replacement who were treated in this pathway with those who were not. We reviewed the preoperative haemoglobin levels, transfusion rates and treatment for all primary total knee arthroplasty patients over three years amounting to 2296. RESULTS: Transfusion rates were significantly lower in the group treated in this pathway compared to those who were not. The treated group also had significantly higher preoperative haemoglobin levels.Discussion and conclusion: Immediate haemoglobin testing in association with a dedicated preoperative anaemia clinic is effective at detecting and treating anaemia in primary total knee replacement patients and reduces transfusion requirements.

Open Fractures - What Is the Evidence, and How Can We Improve?

Open fractures can have devastating consequences, including chronic infections and amputations, leaving patients with life-changing disabilities. Prompt and appropriate treatment can spare patients the sequelae of open fractures and the long-term economic burden these injuries often inflict. The British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma and Orthopaedics (BOAST-4) guideline outlines the acute management of patients with open fractures and is often considered the gold standard for open fracture management in the UK. In an era of evidence-based medicine, clinicians are continually mindful of the science behind current guidelines and practices. This article aims to critique the evidence underpinning the BOAST-4 guidelines and suggest improvements based on contemporary literature. Antibiotic delivery in the prehospital setting, the type and duration of antimicrobial therapy, timing for the conversion from external to internal fixation, and the differentiation between adult and paediatric open fractures were among the many pertinent topics critiqued, and evidence-based improvements suggested.

Management of acute spinal cord injury: A summary of the evidence pertaining to the acute management, operative and non-operative management.

Acute traumatic spinal cord injury is often a lifechanging and devastating event with considerable mortality and morbidity. Over half a million people suffer from traumatic spinal cord injury annually with the majority resulting from road traffic accidents or falls. The Individual, societal and economic costs are enormous. Initial recognition and treatment of acute traumatic spinal cord injury are crucial to limit secondary injury to the spinal cord and to provide patients with the best chance of some functional recovery. This article is an overview of the management of the acute traumatic spinal cord injury patient presenting to the emergency department. We review the initial assessment, criteria for imaging and clearing the spine, and evaluate the literature to determine the optimum timing of surgery and the role of non-surgical treatment in patients presenting with acute spinal cord injury.

Reducing Blood Transfusions in Primary Total Hip Replacement Patients: Effectiveness of Near-patient Testing and a Dedicated Preoperative Anemia Clinic / Reduzindo as transfusões de sangue em pacientes com artroplastia total primária do quadril: A eficácia dos testes rápidos de Hb e uma clínica especializada em anemia pré-operatória

Abstract Objective Preoperative anemia in orthopedic patients is associated with higher allogeneic blood transfusion rates and poorer outcomes. Up to 25% of the patients listed for major orthopedic surgery have some degree of anemia. Good perioperative patient blood management is essential to reduce the sequelae of anemia and the need for transfusions. We assessed the efficacy of rapid near-patient testing in conjunction with a dedicated preoperative anemia clinic for screening and treating primary total hip replacement (THR) patients for anemia. Methods A comparison of overall allogeneic blood transfusion rates was made for patients undergoing primary total hip replacement before and after the implementation of near-patient testing and of a dedicated preoperative anemia clinic over 1 year. A comparison was also performed between anemic patients who were referred to the clinic with those who were not referred. Preoperative hemoglobin levels, allogeneic blood transfusion rates and clinic treatment for 1,095 patients were reviewed. Results There was a significant decrease in transfusion rates in patients undergoing primary THR from 10.0 to 6.2% (p< 0.05; χ2 test) after the implementation of near-patient testing and of a dedicated preoperative anemia clinic pathway. The allogeneic blood transfusion rate for anemic patients who were treated in the clinic was 6.7% compared with 26.9% for patients who were anemic preoperatively but were not treated in the clinic (p< 0.05; Fisher exact test). On average, treatment in the pathway increased the hemoglobin of the patients by 20 g/L, from 104 g/L to 124 g/L (p< 0.001). Conclusions Near-patient testing, in conjunction with a dedicated preoperative anemia clinic, reduces perioperative allogenic blood transfusion requirements for patients undergoing primary THR by providing rapid identification and effective treatment of preoperative anemia.

Resumo Objetivo A anemia pré-operatória em pacientes ortopédicos, está associada a maiores taxas de transfusão de sangue alogênico, resultando em desfechos mais desfavoráveis. Até 25% dos pacientes encaminhados para cirurgia ortopédica de grande porte, apresentam algum grau de anemia. O controle adequado do sangue do paciente no perioperatório é essencial, a fim de reduzir as sequelas da anemia e a necessidade de transfusões. Avaliamos a eficácia do teste rápido, em conjunto com uma clínica especializada no tratamento da anemia pré-operatória, com o objetivo de detectar e tratar a anemia dos pacientes a serem submetidos a artroplastia total primária do quadril. Métodos A comparação das taxas totais de transfusão de sangue alogênico, foi realizada em pacientes submetidos a artroplastia total primária do quadril, antes e depois da implementação dos testes rápidos e da clínica especializada no tratamento da anemia pré-operatória ao longo de um ano. Também foi feita uma comparação entre os pacientes com anemia, que foram encaminhados para a clínica, com aqueles que não foram encaminhados. Foram revisados os níveis de hemoglobina pré-operatória, as taxas de transfusão de sangue alogênico e o tratamento clínico em 1.095 pacientes. Resultados Houve uma redução significativa nas taxas de transfusão, em pacientes submetidos à ATQ primária, caindo de 10,0% para 6,2% (p <0,05, teste χ2), após a implementação do teste rápido e da clínica especializada em anemia pré-operatória. A taxa de transfusão de sangue alogênico para pacientes anêmicos tratados na clínica foi de 6,7%, em comparação com 26,9% para pacientes anêmicos no pré-operatório, que não foram tratados na clínica (p <0,05, teste exato de Fisher). Em média, o tratamento na clínica aumentou a taxa de hemoglobina dos pacientes em 20 g/L, passando de 104 g/L para 124 g/L p <0,001. Conclusões O teste rápido, juntamente com a clínica especializada no tratamento da anemia pré-operatória, reduziu a necessidade de transfusão de sangue alogênico perioperatório, em pacientes submetidos a artroplastia total primária do quadril, proporcionando uma identificação rápida e um tratamento eficaz da anemia pré-operatória.