Aims. The British Spine Registry (BSR) was introduced in May 2012 to be used as a web-based database for spinal surgeries carried out across the UK. Use of this database has been encouraged but not compulsory, which has led to a variable level of engagement in the UK. In 2019 NHS England and NHS Improvement introduced a new Best Practice Tariff (BPT) to encourage input of spinal surgical data on the BSR. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of the spinal BPT on compliance with the recording of surgical data on the BSR. Methods. A retrospective review of data was performed at a tertiary spinal centre between 2018 to 2020. Data were collated from electronic patient records, theatre operating lists, and trust-specific BSR data. Information from the BSR included operative procedures (mandatory), patient consent, email addresses, and demographic details. We also identified Healthcare Resource Groups (HRGs) which qualified for BPT. Results. A total of 3,587 patients were included in our study. Of these, 1,684 patients were eligible for BPT. Between 2018 and 2019 269/974 (28%) records were complete on the BSR for those that would be eligible for BPT. Following introduction of BPT in 2019, 671/710 (95%) records were complete having filled in the mandatory data (p < 0.001). Patient consent to data collection also improved from 62% to 93%. Email details were present in 43% of patients compared with 68% following BPT introduction. Conclusion. Our study found that following the introduction of a BPT, there was a statistically significant improvement in BSR record completion compliance in our unit. The BPT offers a financial incentive which can help generate further income for trusts. National data input into the BSR is important to assess patient outcome following spinal surgery. The BSR can also aid future research in spinal surgery. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2-3:198–201

Introduction. The Best Practice Tariff (BpT) for primary THR / TKR was established in 2014 and rewards good clinical practice with a £550 uplift on the £5000 basic reimbursement. For an ‘average unit’ performing 220 primary THR and 260 eligible knee surgeries (NJR data) this equates to £265,000 per year or over £1million since its inception. The aim of this study was to investigate why Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Trust was not receiving this reimbursement. Materials & Methods. BpT is dependent on four factors (NHS England, PROMS): (i) the provider not having an average health gain significantly below the national average, (ii) a minimum National Joint Registry compliance rate of 85%, (iii) an NJR unknown consent rate below 15%, and (iv) a PROMs participation rate of 50%. Results. Data from NHS Digital confirmed that the Trust's health gains were not significantly below average. Our NJR data was exemplary with 95% compliance rate and an unknown consent rate of only 3%. Based on HES data our PROMS returns were found to be considerably below the 50% target each month (Table 1). The HES data being compared against (269 hip replacement, 334 knee replacement) was far greater than our hospital NJR figures (165 hips, 151 knees). NHS England (PROMs) confirmed that BpT was collated on a Trust not hospital level. Our investigation established that PROMs data for the other hospital within our Trust was not being submitted under the correct ‘ODS’ code and was therefore not contributing to the Trust totals. Discussion. This investigation has precipitated resubmission of all data to NHS Digital under the correct Trust code. This will ensure compliance with the 50% target for PROMs Q1 submission, overall conformity with the BpT standards and a reimbursement of £370,000 to the Trust. For any figures and tables, please contact the authors directly

Best Practice Tariff (BPT) recommends operation for hip fracture within 36 hours. Anticoagulation reversal often delays this. Audit of our service, to establish the impact on BPT of anticoagulation reversal, showed a loss of revenue and delays. Subsequently an ‘early trigger’ Intravenous Vitamin K (IVK) pathway was introduced and re-audit completed. Hip fracture patients admitted over a 32-month period were reviewed. Primary outcome was time to theatre for warfarinised and non-warfarinised patients. This was analysed using independent t-tests. A change in practice, involving nurse led administration of 2mg IVK in the Emergency Department prior to knowledge of the coagulation screen, was instigated. Three months later a re-audit occurred. In the first audit cycle, 83 patients were admitted on warfarin with a median time to theatre of 49.7 hours. 21% of these patients gained BPT. Following protocol change, over three months, 14 warfarinised hip fracture patients were admitted. Twelve patients achieved satisfactory reversal; eight with one IVK administration. Median time to theatre was 33.9h. Compliance with BPT in terms of delay due to anticoagulation was 86%. Our audit demonstrates that ‘early-trigger’ IVK reduces delays to theatre and helps reduce BPT related financial loss. It enables high quality patient-centred care within financial constraints

Background. Best practice tariff (BPT) for hip fracture was introduced in April 2010, offering financial incentive to encourage trusts to implement best practice and improve quality of care. This equates to £1335. An early indicator of a patient's outcome is the time to operation from admission, with best practice targets of <36hours as a key marker of quality. As well as being detrimental to patient experience, delays in the time to operation have clear links to increased mortality rates. Method. We performed a retrospective audit of neck of femur fracture patients from 01.01.14 for 12 months, investigating time to theatre, other BPT targets, and attainment of BPT. A cost analysis was also performed from financial data. Results. Of 471 patients, 461 operations were performed. Our median time to surgery was 24.9 hours. 140 (30%) of patients were not operated on within 36 hours. 134 of these (96%) would have met the BPT had they been operated on within the 36 hour target i.e. all other BPT targets were met. This equates to a loss of £178,890. Conclusions. We achieved time to theatre target for 70% of patients (compared to 71.7% reported nationally), which is suboptimal. A solution is to dedicate more theatre time to hip fractures on theatre lists or lengthened daily trauma lists. However, at £1200 per hour running theatre, this on its own would not be cost effective. Improved theatre utilisation by 10% can potentially save the trust £3,960,000 in a year. We have put forward plans to audit our current theatre usage, potentially improving utilisation and efficiency (e.g. planned hip fracture first on list from previous day to avoid start delay). Additionally we have introduced a “Time of breach” onto our trauma board to concentrate attention on this part of best practice. Level of Evidence. Level 3

Introduction. Management of a patient with a neck of femur (NOF) fracture is a key aspect of orthopaedic trauma care, with around 75 000 new cases in the United Kingdom annually costing the health care over £ 2 billion. Delaying time to theatre for operative intervention of hip fractures negatively impacts on patient outcome and is one of the key aspects of the hip fracture best practice tariff (BPT). One aspect of the peri-operative management of patients with hip fractures implicated in delayed surgery is the use of long term warfarin for anticoagulation. Anticoagulation reversal is a common cause of operative delay. Aim. The aim was to establish the impact this cohort of population had on achieving the BPT and how we could improve it. Material and Methods. Retrospective data was collected over a period of 12 months using the national hip fracture data base (NHFD). The delay to theatre specifically those who were on warfarin was identified. 10 % of the identified cohort was delayed to theatre due to high international normalised ratio (>1.5) and failed to achieve BPT. This cost the trust a loss of around £ 43,200. We have now introduced a simple hand-held warfarin testing device in accident and emergency. All patients on warfarin from history will have a pin prick and instantaneous INR estimated while the routine bloods are dispatched to the laboratory. If INR > 1.5 a stat 2mg intra venous Vit K (IVK) is initiated and INR rechecked at 6 hrs and if indicated further IVK is administered. The device costs £ 800 which is one off investment. Each patient will cost £ 6 for the strips and controls. This will avoid potential huge revenue loss and aid better medical practice. Conclusion. By the use of this simple device and its introduction in the A and E department, we can avoid the time lost for the anticoagulation reversal. This will mean improved patient care and compliance with BPT can be achieved in this cohort of NOF fracture patients

Abstract. Objectives. Our study evaluates financial impact to the Best Practice Tariff (BPT) of hip fracture patients on Novel Oral Anti-Coagulant (NOAC) medication. Since their approval by NICE for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, the incidence of hip fracture patients admitted to hospitals on NOAC medication (e.g. rivaroxiban, apixaban) has been increasing. BPT for hip fractures has two components: a base tariff and a conditional top-up tariff of £1,335 per patient (applied to patients of 60 years of age). For the top-up tariff, six criteria must be met, of which time-to-surgery within 36 hours is one. Our department currently recommends withholding NOAC medication and delaying surgery for at least 48 hours as per our Trust's haematology guidelines to reduce intra-operative bleeding risk. Therefore, the conditional top-up tariff cannot be claimed for these patients. Method. A retrospective review of our Trust hip fracture patients over 60 years of age admitted during 2019 on NOAC medication using National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD). Results. 545 hip fracture patients had operative treatment at our Trust during the one-year period of 2019. 31 of these patients were admitted on NOAC medication, and therefore had to stop the NOAC and wait for at least 48 hours before having surgery. This translates to a potential hip fracture BPT loss of £41,385 in 2019, as the conditional top-up tariff could not be claimed. Conclusion. This study illustrates the large financial impact to BPT that hip fracture patients admitted on NOAC medications has at our Trust. It raises the argument as to whether the BPT should allow for an increased length of time until surgery for such patients, to allow safe surgical treatment with reduced bleeding risk. Declaration of Interest. (b) declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported:I declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project

Introduction:. The Best Practice Tariff (BPT) for hip fractures was introduced in April 2010 to promote a number of quality markers, including surgery within 36 hours. We conducted an audit to see whether the introduction of the BPT has had an inadvertent adverse effect on delay to fixation of unstable ankle fractures. Method:. We compared the delay to surgery for 50 consecutive patients with unstable ankle fractures in the 2009 financial year with another 50 patients treated in the 2011 financial year, ie one year after the introduction of the BPT. There were no other changes in service in our department in this period. All radiographs were reviewed and classified using the Lauge-Hansen system by 2 surgeons. Excel was used for data analysis using unpaired T-Test and chi-squared test to assess significance. Results:. 2 patients with pilon fractures were excluded from each group. Demographics and fracture pattern between the remaining 48 patients in each group were similar. The mean delay to surgery before BPT was 2.2 days compared with 3.8 days after its introduction (p = 0.01). 7 patients waited more than 5 days for surgery before BPT compared with 17 patients after its introduction (p < 0.001). There was 1 manipulation under anaesthetic (MUA) before BPT and 8 MUAs in 7 patients after its introduction (p < 0.001). Conclusion:. There is a significant association between the introduction of BPT for hip fractures and an increase in the delay to surgery for patients with unstable ankle fractures by an average of 1.6 days. More patients waited more than 5 days for surgery and there were more MUAs. We postulate that in a resource-limited NHS, prioritizing one patient group inevitably disadvantages others. Orthopaedic trauma services must adapt to national guidance to ensure all patients are treated in a timely fashion

Introduction. A fractured hip is the commonest cause of injury related death in the UK. Prompt surgery has been found to improve pain scores and reduce the length of hospital stay, risk of decubitus ulcer formation and mortality rates. The hip fracture Best Practice Tariff (BPT) aims to improve these outcomes by financially compensating services, which deliver hip fracture surgery within 36 hours of admission. Ensuring that delays are reserved for patients with conditions which compromise survival, but are responsive to medical optimisation, would facilitate enhanced outcomes and help to achieve the 36-hour target. We aimed to identify medical conditions associated with patients failing to achieve the 36-hour cut off, and evaluated whether these were justified by calculating their associated mortality risk. Methods. Prospectively collected data from the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) and inpatient hospital records and blood results from a single major trauma centre were obtained. Complete data sets from 1361 patients were available for analysis. Medical conditions contributing to surgical delay beyond the BPPT (Best Practice Tariff Target) 36-hour cut off, were identified and analysed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses, whilst adjusting for covariates. The mortality risk associated with each factor contributing to surgical delay was then calculated using univariate and hierarchical regression techniques. Results. A total 1,361 patients underwent hip fracture surgery, of which 537 patients (39.5%) received surgery within 36- hours of admission. The overall median time to surgery from presentation was 23 hours (range 3–36) in patients who did (group 1) and 72 hours (range 36–774) in those who did not (group 2) receive timely surgery. There was no difference between the two groups with respect to age, gender, walking ability, fracture pattern and ASA grade. Following univariate analysis, seven variables including admission source, history of dementia, ischaemic heart disease, MI, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), urinary tract infections and hyponatraemia met criteria for inclusion into the Cox regression model. The model thereafter revealed only hyponatraemia to be a significant determinant of delay to surgery beyond 36 hours with a covariate adjusted relative risk (RR) 1.24 (95% CI 1.06 – 1.44, p=0.006). The overall 30- day mortality in our cohort of hip fracture patients was 9.0%. The commonest cause of death was pneumonia (37%). A second stage hierarchical cox model failed to demonstrate hyponatraemia as being a predictor of 30- day mortality after adjusting for significant co-variants (RR=0.944, CI 95% 0.616–1.447, p=0.793). Conclusions. Hip fracture surgery should not be delayed in the presence of non-severe and isolated hyponatraemia. Instead surgical delay should be reserved for medical conditions, which contribute to mortality and are optimisable

The ‘Best Practice Tariff‘ (BPT) was developed to improve hip fracture care by incentivising hospitals to provide timely multidisciplinary care to patients sustaining these injuries. The current literature examining the association between BPT and patient outcomes is conflicting and underpowered. We aimed to determine if achieving BPT has an impact on 30-day mortality and postoperative length of stay.

A retrospective analysis for patients admitted to a major trauma centre (MTC) was performed between 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2020. Data were extracted from the National Hip Fracture Database. The study population was divided into two groups: those who achieved all BPT criteria (BPT-passed) and those who did not (BPT-failed). The primary outcomes of interest included the 30-day mortality rate and postoperative length of stay (LOS). As a secondary objective, we aimed to assess factors that predict perioperative mortality by utilising a logistic regression model.

4397 cases were included for analysis. 3422 (78%) met the BPT criteria, whereas 973 (22%) did not. The mean LOS in the BPT-achieving group was 17.2 days compared with 18.6 in the BPT-failed group, p<0.001. 30-day mortality was significantly lower in the BPT-achieving group i.e., 4.3% in BPT-achieved vs. 12.1% in BPT-failed, p<0.001. Logistic regression modelling demonstrated that attainment of BPT was associated with significantly lower 30-day mortality (OR: 0.32; 95% CI:0.24–0.41; p<0.001).

To our knowledge, this is the largest study to investigate the association between BPT attainment and 30-day mortality as well as the length of stay. The present study demonstrates that achieving BPT in hip fracture patients is associated with a significant reduction in the average length of stay and 30-day mortality rates. Our crude calculations revealed that achieving BPT for 3422 patients earned our hospital trust >£4 million over 8 years. Findings from this study suggest that achieving BPT not only improves 30-day survival in patients with hip fractures but also aids cost-effectiveness by reducing LOS and helps generate NHS Trusts a significant amount of financial reward.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine whether national standards of best practice are associated with improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in hip fracture patients.

Within an ageing population, the morbidity and mortality burden of neck of femur fractures will only worsen. Financially incentivising acute Trusts via the Best Practice Tariff for inpatient care has yielded good results(1,2,3,4) but post-discharge care is still variable. Most importantly, restoring patients to their pre-fracture mobility is key to their quality of life(5,6) and reducing both readmissions to hospital(7,8) and expensive local authority residential care. Unfortunately, physiotherapist vacancies are in their thousands(9,10) leading to waiting times of around three months once discharged(11). In 2019, the Royal Derby Hospital created a novel Hip Fracture Patient Advocate (HFPA) to observe those who have fallen through gaps in community services. It involves monitoring patients’ progression, signposting to appropriate services, flagging issues to the responsible consultant and assisting in physical mobilisation. A retrospective review examined data from patients discharged to their own homes. This included demographics, residential status and mobility, both pre-fracture and at 120 days post-fracture. Mobility was classified into five categories, in line with the national hip fracture database. In 2018, of 238 patients, 41.2% returned to their baseline or increased mobility, and, after the introduction of the HFPA in 2019, this figure increased to 48.2%. In one year, there was a 7% increase in patients recovering their baseline mobility. This is a cost-effective intervention that can successfully improve mobility, leading to improved long-term outcomes. This includes the potential to reduce acute readmissions and the need for residential care, appealing to Integrated Care Boards. It also bridges the gap to primary care to optimise medical management and after further development, could be financially-incentivised via the Best Practice Tariff. Rather than thinking more expensive clinicians are required, this study proposes that a HFPA can garner better outcomes for both the patient and the wider system

Aims

Hip fractures are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and costs. One strategy for improving outcomes is to incentivize hospitals to provide better quality of care. We aimed to determine whether a pay-for-performance initiative affected hip fracture outcomes in England by using Scotland, which did not participate in the scheme, as a control.

Aims. Diabetic foot care is a significant burden on the NHS in England. We have conducted a nationwide survey to determine the current participation of orthopaedic surgeons in diabetic foot care in England. Methods. A questionnaire was sent to all 136 NHS trusts audited in the 2018 National Diabetic Foot Audit (NDFA). The questionnaire asked about the structure of diabetic foot care services. Results. Overall, 123 trusts responded, of which 117 admitted patients with diabetic foot disease and 113 had an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon. A total of 90 trusts (77%) stated that the admission involved medicine, with 53 (45%) of these admissions being exclusively under medicine, and 37 (32%) as joint admissions. Of the joint admissions, 16 (14%) were combined with vascular and 12(10%) with orthopaedic surgery. Admission is solely under vascular surgery in 12 trusts (10%) and orthopaedic surgery in 7 (6%). Diabetic foot abscesses were drained by orthopaedic surgeons in 61 trusts (52%) and vascular surgeons in 47 (40%). Conclusion. Orthopaedic surgeons make a significant contribution to both acute and elective diabetic foot care currently in the UK. This contribution is likely to increase with the movement of vascular surgery to a hub and spoke model, and measures should be put in place to increase the team based approach to the diabetic foot, for example with the introduction of a best practice tariff. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(8):618–622

Aims. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of hospital-level service characteristics on hip fracture outcomes and quality of care processes measures. Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of publicly available audit data obtained from the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) 2018 benchmark summary and Facilities Survey. Data extraction was performed using a dedicated proforma to identify relevant hospital-level care process and outcome variables for inclusion. The primary outcome measure was adjusted 30-day mortality rate. A random forest-based multivariate imputation by chained equation (MICE) algorithm was used for missing value imputation. Univariable analysis for each hospital level factor was performed using a combination of Tobit regression, Siegal non-parametric linear regression, and Mann-Whitney U test analyses, dependent on the data type. In all analyses, a p-value < 0.05 denoted statistical significance. Results. Analyses included 176 hospitals, with a median of 366 hip fracture cases per year (interquartile range (IQR) 280 to 457). Aggregated data from 66,578 patients were included. The only identified hospital-level variable associated with the primary outcome of 30-day mortality was hip fracture trial involvement (no trial involvement: median 6.3%; trial involvement: median 5.7%; p = 0.039). Significant key associations were also identified between prompt surgery and presence of dedicated hip fracture sessions; reduced acute length of stay and both a higher number of hip fracture cases per year and more dedicated hip fracture operating lists; Best Practice Tariff attainment and greater number of hip fracture cases per year, more dedicated hip fracture operating lists, presence of a dedicated hip fracture ward, and hip fracture trial involvement. Conclusion. Exploratory analyses have identified that improved outcomes in hip fracture may be associated with hospital-level service characteristics, such as hip fracture research trial involvement, larger hip fracture volumes, and the use of theatre lists dedicated to hip fracture surgery. Further research using patient level data is warranted to corroborate these findings. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(10):1627–1632

Hip fracture is a common injury with a high associated mortality. Many recommendations regarding timing of operative intervention exist for patients with such injuries. The Best Practice Tariff was introduced in England and Wales in 2010, offering financial incentives for surgery undertaken within 36 hours of admission. The England and Wales National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidance states that surgery should be performed on the day or day after admission. Due to lack of clear evidence, this recommendation is based on Humanitarian grounds. NICE have called for further research into the effect of surgical timing on mortality. We utilised data from the National Hip Fracture database prospectively collected between 2007 and 2015, comprising 413,063 hip fractures. Using 11 variables, both Cox and Logistic regression analysis was used to establish the effect on mortality of each 12 hour interval from admission to surgery. For each 12 hour time frame from admission to surgery a trend for improved 30 day survival was demonstrated the earlier the surgery was performed. However, this did not reach significance until beyond 48 hours (Hazard ratio of 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04–1.20). Surgery after 48 hours suffered significantly higher chance of mortality compared to surgery done within 12 hours. This is the largest analysis undertaken to date. Lowest mortality rates are found within the 0–12 hour window. After 48 hours there is a significant increased risk of mortality compared to the 0–12 hour time frame. As such, expeditious surgery within 48 hours can be justified both on humanitarian and survivorship grounds. Hip fracture surgery performed within 48 hours is associated with reduced mortality when compared to that beyond this time. This is in agreement with Blue Book recommendations and extends the currently recommended NICE and Best Practice Tariff targets of 36 hours

Aims. Postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) are common surgical complications. In the UK, the Best Practice Tariff incentivizes the screening of delirium in patients with hip fracture. Further, a National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) performance indicator is the reduction in the incidence of POD. To aid in its recognition, we sought to determine factors associated with POD and POCD in patients with hip fractures. Methods. We interrogated the NHFD data on patients presenting with hip fractures to our institution from 2016 to 2018. POD was determined using the 4AT score, as recommended by the NHFD and UK Department of Health. POCD was defined as a decline in Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) of two or greater. Using logistic regression, we adjusted for covariates to identify factors associated with POD and POCD. Results. Of the 1,224 patients presenting in the study period, 1,023 had complete datasets for final analysis. POD was observed in 242 patients (25%). On multivariate analysis only preoperative AMTS and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (ASA) were independent predictors of POD. Every point increase in AMTS was associated with a fall in the odds of POD by a factor of 0.60 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56 to 0.63, p < 0.001). Every grade increase in ASA led to a 1.7-fold increase in the odds of POD (95% CI 1.13 to 2.50, p = 0.009). A preoperative AMTS of less than 8 was strongly predictive of POD with area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.86 (95% CI 0.84 to 0.89). Only ASA was predictive of POCD—every grade increase in ASA led to a 2.6-fold increase in the odds of POCD (95% CI 1.7 to 4.0, p < 0.001). Conclusion. POD and POCD are common in the hip fracture patients. Preoperative AMTS and ASA are strong predictors of POD, and ASA predictive of POCD. This may aid in the earlier identification of those most at risk and suited for the patient consent and decision-making process. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(12):1675–1681

Daycase surgery has advantages for patients, clinicians and trusts. The Best Practice Tariff uplift is £200/case for Minor Foot Procedures performed as daycases. Before discharge, Foot & Ankle daycase procedures in Cheltenham General Hospital require physiotherapy assessment and frequently an orthotic aid. This audit analysed length of stay of daycase patients on a Foot and Ankle list. The standard was 100% of daycase patients to be discharged the same day. Length of stay for a consecutive series of patients was calculated for all daycase procedures from October to December 2010. An intervention was made comprising a weekly multidisciplinary bulletin from the Orthopaedic Consultant. This highlighted post-operative weight-bearing instructions and orthotic requirements for forthcoming daycase patients to physiotherapists, nursing staff and junior doctors. The data was compared with a second consecutive series of patients from October to December 2011. The first series included 38 listed daycases of which 61% (23 patients) were daycase discharges. The second series comprised 41 listed daycases who received pre-operative physiotherapy assessment and provision of required orthotic aids; 85% (35 patients) of this group were discharged the same day. Data analysis using Fisher's exact test reveals this intervention had a statistically significant impact on the number of patients discharged the same day (p < 0.0207). The financial implications are increased Best Practice Tariff with an £1800 uplift and reduction in the estimated cost of unnecessary overnight stays of £4640 over the 3 months. Improved multidisciplinary communication can significantly improve the patient experience, bed occupancy and cost of care

Aims. This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 on hip and distal femur fracture patient outcomes across three successive UK lockdown periods over one year. Methods. A single-centre retrospective cohort study was performed at an acute NHS Trust. Hip and distal femur fracture patients admitted within the first month from each of the three starting dates of each national lockdown were included and compared to a control group in March 2019. Data were collected as per the best practice tariff outcomes including additional outcomes as required. Data collection included COVID-19 status, time to theatre, 30-day mortality, presence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and pneumonia, and do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) status. Data were analyzed using an independent-samples t-test or chi-squared test with Fisher’s exact test where applicable. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. A total of 95 patients during the pandemic were included and 20 were COVID-positive. Patients experienced a statistically significant increase in time to theatre in Lockdown 1 compared to 2019 (p = 0.039) with a decrease with successive lockdown periods by Lockdown 3. The 30-day mortality increased from 8.8% in 2019 to 10.0% to 14.8% in all lockdown periods. COVID-positive patient mortality was 30.0% (p = 0.063, odds ratio (OR) = 4.43 vs 2019). The rates of AKI and pneumonia experienced were higher for patients during the pandemic. The highest rates were experienced in COVID-positive patients, with 45.0% of patients with AKI versus 27.0% in 2019 (p = 0.38, OR = 1.80), and 50.0% of patients diagnosed with pneumonia versus 16.2% in 2019 (p = 0.0012, OR = 5.17). The percentage of patients with a DNACPR increased from 30.0% in 2019 to 60.7% by Lockdown 3 (p = 0.034, OR = 3.61). Conclusion. COVID-positive hip and distal femur fracture patients are at a higher risk of mortality due to AKI and pneumonia. Patient outcomes have improved with successive lockdowns to pre-pandemic levels. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(12):1017–1026

Following the establishment of regional Major Trauma Networks in England in 2012, there were concerns that pressures regarding resource allocation in Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) may have a detrimental impact on the care of patients with hip fractures in these hospitals. This study aimed to compare outcomes in hip fracture care between MTCs and trauma units (TUs). National Hip Fracture Database data was extracted from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2022 for all hospitals in England. Outcome measures included perioperative medical and physiotherapy assessments, time to surgery, consultant supervision in theatre, Best Practice Tariff (BPT) compliance, discharge to original residence, and mortality. Data was pooled and weighted for MTCs and remaining hospitals (TUs). A total of 487,089 patients with hip fractures were included from 167 hospitals (23 MTCs and 144 TUs). MTCs achieved marginally higher rates of orthogeriatrician assessment within 72 hours of admission (91.1% vs 90.4%, p<0.001) and mobilisation out of bed by first postoperative day (81.9% vs 79.7%, p<0.001). A lower proportion of patients underwent surgery by the day after admission in MTCs (65.2% vs 69.7%, p<0.001). However, there was significantly higher consultant surgeon and anaesthetist supervision rates during surgery in MTCs (71.8% vs 61.6%, p<0.001). There was poorer compliance with BPT criteria in MTCs (57.3% vs 60.4%, p<0.001), and proportionately fewer MTC patients were discharged to their original residence (63.5% vs 60.4%, p<0.001). There was no difference between MTCs and TUs in 30-day mortality (6.8% vs 6.8%, p=0.825). This study demonstrates that MTCs have greater difficulty in providing prompt surgery to hip fracture patients. However, their marginally superior perioperative care outcomes appear to compensate for this, as their mortality rates are similar to TUs. These findings suggest that the regionalisation of major trauma in England has not significantly compromised the overall care of hip fracture patients

Aims. “Get It Right First Time” (GIRFT) and NHS England’s Best Practice Tariff (BPT) have published directives advising that patients over the ages of 65 (GIRFT) and 69 years (BPT) receiving total hip arthroplasty (THA) should receive cemented implants and have brought in financial penalties if this policy is not observed. Despite this, worldwide, uncemented component use has increased, a situation described as a ‘paradox’. GIRFT and BPT do, however, acknowledge more data are required to support this edict with current policies based on the National Joint Registry survivorship and implant costs. Methods. This study compares THA outcomes for over 1,000 uncemented Corail/Pinnacle constructs used in all age groups/patient frailty, under one surgeon, with identical pre- and postoperative pathways over a nine-year period with mean follow-up of five years and two months (range: nine months to nine years and nine months). Implant information, survivorship, and regular postoperative Oxford Hip Scores (OHS) were collected and two comparisons undertaken: a comparison of those aged over 65 years with those 65 and under and a second comparison of those aged 70 years and over with those aged under 70. Results. Overall revision rate was 1.3% (13/1,004). A greater number of revisions were undertaken in those aged over 65 years, but numbers were small and did not reach significance. The majority of revisions were implant-independent. Single component analysis revealed a 99.9% and 99.6% survival for the uncemented cup and femoral component, respectively. Mean patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) improvement for all ages outperformed the national PROMs and a significantly greater proportion of those aged over 65/69 years reached and maintained a meaningful improvement in their OHS earlier than their younger counterparts (p < 0.05/0.01 respectively). Conclusion. This study confirms that this uncemented THA system can be used safely and effectively in patient groups aged over 65 years and those over 69 years, with low complication and revision rates. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(5):293–300