AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PREOPERATIVE DENTAL VISIT

Abstract

This paper outlines and defines a research, which was conducted in order to gauge the efficiency of the Elective Orthopaedic Assessment Clinic in the Department of Orthopaedics, Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilkenny, Ireland. The study was conducted in the year 1999. During this year, 380 patients were seen in the clinic. Of these, 328 patients were on the waiting list for joint replacement and 52 were on the waiting list for other elective procedure. In the process of the study it was observed that 204 patients were found fit on their first preassesment visit. Of all the 328 patients on the waiting list, 48 of those who were awaiting joint replacement were found to have dental caries or infected gums and 28 were diagnosed with some minor infective foci elsewhere in the body. However as according to procedure the patients that did not meet the preassessment criteria due to infection, but were pronounced fit for an operation had to wait for the infection to settle before they could be rescheduled for surgery.

The study in question has proved that the clinic acts as an intermediary between the patients and the operation theatre, by determining patient’s fitness for surgery and appropriately placing them on the corresponding waiting lists. This fact is of primary importance as it aids in preventing possible and sometimes last minute cancellations, thereby attesting to the effectives and efficiency of the clinic. The clinics efficiency can also be measured by the fact that it has initiated a number of improvements, such as the introduction of a checklist card for patients on the waiting list for joint replacements. This checklist includes dental health, and also arranges for patients to be examined by their general practioners and dentists before the preassesment checkup.