Abstract
Introduction: Although knee athroplasty is a very successful operation, British knee surgeons have a wide variation in their methods of patient management. Aims: To determine current knee practice within the United Kingdom. Material and Methods: A postal survey was conducted of all members of the British Association of Knee Surgery. They were asked about pre-operative assessment, type of prosthesis used, antibiotic prophylaxis, DVT prophylaxis, bilateral arthroplasty, preferred anaesthetic, urinary catheter, patella replacement, autologous blood transfusion, mobilisation, duration of hospital stay and patient follow up. Results: 71% (221) members replied. The results and implications will be presented in full at the presentation. Some of the more interesting findings included: 18% did not have a pre-admission clinic, 18% use thromboprophylaxis for medicolegal reasons only (do not believe it works), 19% never replace the patella, 48% perform unicondlyar arthroplasty, 41% follow up patients indefinitely, one discharges patients at 6 weeks, 77% perform bilateral arthroplasty. Discussion and Conclusion: Comparison with a 1996 study of UK knee practice shows that most techniques are unchanged although slightly more surgeons routinely use an uncemented implant. (4.8% 1996, 12% 2001). There remains a wide variation in UK practice. The authors would be grateful if colleagues from other countries would contact them so that comparable studies of practice could be performed in their countries. This data may be used to compare international attitudes to knee arthroplasty.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
