Objective. To investigate the effectiveness of applying fast track surgery concept in primary total hip arthroplasty. Methods. The data of patients with primary total hip arthroplasty in our department from January 1, 2013 to October 1, 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into traditional recovery group, enhanced recoverygroup and update enhanced recovery group according to different interventions. The blood loss, transfusion rate, complications rate, postoperative function, length of stay, hospitalization expense and readmission rate were compared between three groups. Results. A total of 435 cases were included. Compared with traditional recovery group, the average blood loss, length of stay and total cases of complication in update enhanced recovery group were reduced 91.44 ml, 1.34 days and 14.05%, respectively, and the differences showed statistical significance. From 2013 to 2015 the hip flexion and abduction degree increased annually, the differences also showed statistical significance. The blood transfusion rate, other complications and hospitalization expense were all reduced, but there were no statistical significance. Conclusions. The emphasis of fast track surgery concept in primary total hip arthroplasty was the management in perioperative period. Through continuous optimization of intervention measures under the guidance of evidence based medicine, it can effectively accelerate recovery, diminish complications and reduce the length of hospital stay

Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries are a common cause of downgrade in Service personnel. The Multidisciplinary Injury Assessment Clinic (MIAC) is a service which patients can be referred to for expert musculoskeletal injury management. MIAC has a Fast Track (FT) referral system in place for imaging, and can subsequently refer isolated ACL injuries to a private provider for reconstruction. We examined this pathway in the South West region which has an overall population at risk of 19775. Over 4 years 173 knee injuries were referred to MIAC, of which 32 were ACL injuries. Of the 29 patients referred for MRI, the median time to imaging was 8 days with FT (n=13, range 2–14) and. 15 days via the NHS (n=16, range 5–64). The majority of injuries were found to involve multiple pathologies (n=19), excluding them from FT surgery. Time to NHS clinic from point of referral took a median time of 54 days, and onward delay to surgery was 47 days. None of the referrals to the private provider for reconstruction were accepted (n=3). We have identified aspects of current referral and treatment pathways that are inefficient and discuss a current solution utilising Military surgeons

Introduction. The Patient's Dream is not to stay in hospital even overnight, including in limb lengthening. We developed the ‘Hyper Fast Track Protocol’ (HFTP) in 2015 to fasten recovery and shorten hospital stay. Materials and Methods. The protocol included surgical stab incisions, use of weight bearing lengthening nails (G-Nail), intramedullary saw, a specific anaesthesia care (blood hypo-pressure, tranexamic acid, low hydration), absence of early anticoagulants, systematic vascular US controls, but early motion (hip and knee Ext/Fle, leg raise, horizontal ‘scissors’), walking, stairs, bike, clicking (maneuvers to lengthen), early discharge, along with other patient's parameters. Timing and exercises reps were registered. Protocols improved over time. Means ± SD are computed. Results. Forms were analysed in 112 patients (unilateral 7, dwarfism 2, cosmetic 103). Besides patients operated in the afternoon (18), physio sessions initiated (h:mm) in average 0:46 ± 0:19 after awakening in operative room, for a duration of 2:15 ± 0:46. No DVT was noted on US nor clinically. In 2016, hospitalisation averaged 2.88 nights, decreasing to 2.07 in 2017, then to 1.07 from 2020. In late 2020 and in 2021, we had several patients in Daycare only, even in bilateral lengthening. In late 2021, we could discharge a patient after walking, full motion and exercises 3.5 hours after awakening from bilateral surgery. Conclusions. With continuous result monitoring and constant improvement of Care, walking, stairs, clicks and biking are fully feasible within 3h of surgery awakening, with discharge on the same day, using specific protocols

Recruits undergoing arduous training at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) carry a higher risk of femoral neck stress fractures than many other military populations. This injury has serious sequelae and requires urgent operative fixation if it is displaced. Existing literature advocates a low threshold for imaging patients where this injury is suspected, due to the prognostic advantage conferred by early intervention. CTCRM uses a locally produced scoring system based on history and clinical assessment, to guide the requirement for imaging. Since 2015 access to MRI has been possible through a fast track provider. Between 2012 and 2015, 3522 Royal Marine Recruits entered training. Over the period, 95 MRI scans of the hip were performed, of which 12 utilised private pathways. 13 stress fractures of the femoral neck were identified; 23% (n=3) were displaced and required fixation. The overall incidence rate for this injury is therefore 37 per 10,000, with a displaced incidence rate of 9 per 10,000. We compare these data with previous studies, discuss the use and efficacy of the scoring tool, and assess the benefit conferred by the local private MRI agreement

A Prosthetic Joint infection (PJI) is an orthopedic disaster. There is a direct correlation between persistent wound drainage (>72 hours) and the development of a PJI. It is unknown if early wound drainage (<12 hours) is correlated with PJI. We included 753 consecutive patients treated with a Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) or Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) operated between December 2012 and December 2013. All patients were treated according to our local fast track joint surgery protocol. We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected data on wound drainage and PJI. The diagnosis PJI was established according to the definition by the International Consensus Group on Prosthetic Joint Infections. Per PJI-case, two control-cases were matched on type of surgery (THA or TKA) and day of surgery. Analysed variables were co-morbidities, medication, use of drains, haematoma, wound drainage and dressing changes. Statistical analysis was done using Kaplan Meier logistic regression with statistic significance set at p<0.005. In 753 included patients, 25 PJI-cases were identified and 50 controls were matched. Cases had significant more wound drainage (88% vs 36% P=0.001)) and wound dressing changes (56% vs 18% P=0.006) in the direct postoperative phase (<12 uur postoperative). Cases had more haematoma (44% vs 10% P=0.005). We found no association between PJI and co-morbidity, medication and use of drains. We found that wound drainage directly postoperative (<12hr) correlated with PJI. We believe that direct post operative drainage is of crucial importance in the development of PJI and inhibition of drainage offers opportunities for prevention of PJI. The use of tranexamic acid, suction drains and critical evaluation of guidelines for preventing thrombo embolic events all offer reducing the risk on wound drainage and the development of PJI

Referral patterns in spine clinic of young patients with suspected scoliosis is suboptimal with 19% of late referrals and 42% of inappropriate referrals. Patients' triage and prioritisation in spine clinic is a strategy to ensure that health care allocation is done according to the level of health needs, favoring effective management and efficient use of health care resources use. The objective of the study is to elaborate a model for triage and prioritisation of young patients in spine clinic based on expert consensus and literature on best practices. This projects was structured in three parts: 1)We documented best evidence. We conducted a review of empirical studies evaluating triage and prioritisation initiatives in order to identify key components for intervention success. 2)We elaborate a model of health care delivery with the professionals of a local paediatric spine clinic. In this model, the triage and prioritisation algorithm was developed from list of potential factors (demographics, signs and perceived symptoms, provisional diagnoses and known co-morbidities, results of preliminary physical examination and radiological findings) that was submitted to five paediatric orthopaedic surgeons for rating according to their potential relevance to orient prioritisation decisions. 3) We compared the professionals' model of health care delivery to the literature synthesis in order to propose the best model. Seven key components of triage and prioritisation systems were identified: centralised review of referral requests, list of consensual objectives criteria for triage, fast track evaluation of urgent cases, selection of cases for management at point of triage, cases prioritisation to main consultant, multidisciplinary evaluation and alternatives pathways. The consensual decision algorithm confirmed that cases who should be seen in priority are immature patients presenting with a significant trunk deformity. In addition, presence of persisting neurological symptoms, severe incapacitating pain or night pain, as well as abnormal scan or MRI findings were considered as urgent/PI priority. Cases characteristics for evaluation by nurse practitioners as well as alternative pathways of management were defined. Acceptability, compatibility, clinical relevance and discriminant capacity of the new model of health care delivery were satisfactorily demonstrated. Consensus was easily reached between the five respondents on factors supporting decisions to prioritise patients in spine clinic for suspected spinal deformity. Refinements to the initially proposed model according the identified key features from the literature, led to a final model of health care delivery that is evidence-base, feasible and coherent with the local context. Future implementation of this model should facilitate timely and appropriate health care delivery and best use of health care resources according to patients' needs

Introduction. Fast track arthroplasty regimens require preservation of motor power to perform early rehabilitation and ensure early discharge (1). Commonly performed nerve blocks like femoral and Sciatic nerve blocks results in motor weakness thereby interfering with early rehabilitation and may also predispose to patient falls (2, 3). Hence, targeting the terminal branches of the femoral and sciatic nerves around the knee joint under ultrasound is an attractive strategy. The nerve supply of interest for knee analgesia are the terminal branches of the femoral nerve, the genicular branches of the lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh, obturator and sciatic nerves (4). Methods. We modified the performance of the adductor canal block and combined it with US guided posterior pericapsular injection and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block to provide analgesia around the knee joint. The femoral artery is first traced under the sartorius muscle until the origin of descending geniculate artery and the block is performed proximal to its origin. A needle is inserted in-plane between the Sartorius and rectus femoris above the fascia lata and 5 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine (LA) is injected to block the intermediate cutaneous nerve of thigh. The needle is then redirected to enter the fascia of Sartorius to deliver an additional 5ml of LA to cover the medial cutaneous nerve of thigh following which it is further advanced till the needle tip is seen to lie adjacent to the femoral artery under the Sartorius to perform the adductor canal block with an additional 15–20 ml of LA to cover nerve to vastus medialis, saphenous nerve and posterior division of the obturator nerve (Fig 1). The lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh is optionally blocked with 10 ml of LA near the anterior superior iliac spine between the origin of Sartorius and tensor fascia lata (Fig 2). The terminal branches of sciatic nerve to the knee joint is blocked by depositing 25 ml of local anesthetic solution between the popliteal artery and femur bone at the level of femoral epicondyles (Fig 3). Results. The initial experience of the block performed on 10 patients reveal the median (IQR) block duration is noted to be around 20 (±6.5) hours. The median (IQR) pain scores in the first 24 postoperative hours ranged from 0 (±0.5) to 3 (±2.5) at rest and 1.5 (±3.5) to 5.5 (±1) on movement. All patients were successfully mobilized on the morning of the first postoperative day. Conclusion. Motor sparing from the blocks while providing adequate analgesia can be achieved by selectively targeting the sensory innervation of the knee joint. Future comparative studies are needed to evaluate the performance of the block against other modes of analgesia for knee arthroplasty

Objectives. The goal of this study was to describe and evaluate the implementation of a tailored care pathway as an alternative to a standard joint care protocol in the postoperative in-hospital rehabilitation after total knee replacement (TKR) on clinically relevant outcome parameters. Methods. We monitored an orthopaedic department regarding postoperative rehabilitation after TKR on several outcome parameters throughout a period of 32 months, whilst introducing a new care pathway after 17 months. Outcome parameters were monitored and comprised: Time to get functionally recovered (in days), length of stay (in days) and destination of discharge. Key-differences between the joint care protocol and the new tailored pathway were: 1. determination of individual short term rehabilitation goals on the basis of a preoperative clinical prediction rule and postoperative monitoring of functional recovery, 2. Enhancement of expertise of and collaboration between health care professionals and 3. implementation of fast track rehabilitation. We compared the patients operated after implementation of the tailored care pathway with those who were treated according to the joint care protocol. Regression analysis was used to estimate differences between the two groups of patients while correcting for baseline differences in risk profile between the groups. Results. Introduction of the tailored care pathway decreased the length of stay on average from 5.2 days to 4.2 days, (p< 0.01). In addition, there was a 7% non-statistically significant reduction in the number of patients who required inpatient rehabilitation after hospital discharge. Conclusion. Introduction of the tailored care pathway reduced the mean length of stay by one day, whilst patient safety and satisfaction remained unaltered

Background. Arthroplasty requires an interdisciplinary multimodal approach with anaesthetists playing a key role; providing stable intra-operative conditions, allowing rapid patient recovery, optimising analgeisa and minimizing side-effects. The incidence of post-operative urinary retention (POUR) varies significantly in joint arthroplasty (10–84%). Current literature quotes lower doses of opioids have been shown to reduce POUR, however studies consistently show spinal opioids influence bladder function causing urinary retention. Existing literature fails to comment upon the rate of POUR following joint arthroplasty comparing intrathecal diamorphine against intrathecal local anaesthetic (ITLA) within a modern fast track arthroplasty system (FTA). Methods. A two-year (2009–11) retrospective analysis was conducted encompassing a multi-surgeon duel-centre review. Rates of POUR were compared when utilising ITLA and multimodal analgesia including local anaesthetic infiltration (LIA) (site A) against ITLA in combination with intrathecal diamorphine (site B) for joint arthroplasty under spinal analgesia. Outcomes were analysed using 30-day POUR rates coding data and cross-referenced against patient records. Information was collected on patient co-morbidity, age, gender, surgery duration and renal function. Patients were excluded for previous POUR, prostate pathology, postoperative PCA, and conversion to general anaesthetic. Results. 2343 patients underwent joint arthroplasty within this period. At Site A 12 episodes of POUR were identified, whilst 71 were identified at site B. After exclusions, 56 cases underwent analysis. All had a clinical and radiological diagnosis of POUR. The study participants' mean age was 71 years, BMI 27.9 (range 20–47) and 96% were male. Patients across both sites had comparable co-morbidities. All patients at site B had intrathecal morphine with 96% having 3 micrograms of diamorphine. 30-day POUR rates at Site A (ITLA and LAI) were 1.2% and Site B (ITLA and intrathecal morphine) 5.4% (p=0.0001). Conclusion. The absence of intrathecal diamorphine in spinal anaesthesia significantly reduces the rates of POUR in patients undergoing joint arthroplasty

Over the past fifteen years, computer-assisted surgery systems have been more commonly used, especially in joint arthroplasty. They allow a greater accuracy and precision in surgical procedures and thus should improve outcomes and long term results. New instruments such as guided handheld tools have been recently developed to ultimately eliminate the need for drilling/cutting or milling guides. To make sure that the handheld tool cuts and/or drills in the desired plane, it has to be servo-controlled. For this purpose, the tool joints are actuated by computer-controlled motors. A tracking system gives the tool position and orientation and a computer calculates the corrections for the motors to keep the tool in the desired plane. For this servo-control, a very fast tracking system would be necessary. It should be fast enough to follow human motion. Current optical tracking systems used for computer-assisted surgery have a bandwidth of about 10–60 Hz [3]. For servo-control, a bandwidth of about 200–300 Hz would be required to be faster than human reaction; the latency of the system should also be small, about 2–3 ms. Optical tracking systems with a higher bandwidth exist but are too expensive for applications in surgery; besides the latency – due to the complex computer vision treatment involved – is too big. We have developed a hybrid tracking system consisting of two cameras pointed at the operating field and a sensor unit which can be attached to a handheld tool. The sensor unit is made up of an inertial measuring unit (IMU) and numerous optical markers. The data from the IMU (three gyroscopes and three accelerometers placed such that their measurement axes are perpendicular to each other) and the marker images from the cameras looking at the optical markers are fed to a data fusion algorithm. This algorithm calculates the position and the orientation of any handheld tool. It can do so at the higher of the two sensor sample rates which is the IMU sample rate in our case. Our experimental setup consists of an ADIS 16355 IMU which runs at a sample rate of 250 Hz and a pair of stereo cameras which are sampled at 16.7 Hz. The data collected from these sensors are processed offline by the data fusion algorithm. To compare the results of our hybrid system to those of a purely optical tracking system, we use only the marker image data to recalculate the sensor unit's position by triangulation. The experiment we conducted was a fast motion in a horizontal direction starting from a rest position. The sensor unit position was calculated by the hybrid system and by the optical tracking system using the experimental data. The fast motion started right after the optical sample at t1 and the hybrid system detects it at once. The optical tracking system, on the other hand, only sees the motion at the next optical sample time t2. These results show that our hybrid system is able to follow a fast motion of the sensor unit whereas a purely optical tracking system is not. The proposed hybrid tracking system calculates position and orientation of any handheld tool at a high frequency of 250 Hz and thus makes it possible to servo-control the tool to keep it in the desired plane. Several similar systems fusing optical and inertial data have been described in the literature. They all use processed optical data, i.e. 3D marker positions. Our algorithm uses raw image data to considerably reduce computation time. This hybrid tracking system can be used with any handheld tool developed to substitute existing drilling, cutting or milling instruments used in orthopaedic surgery and particularly in arthroplasty. The sensor unit can be easily implemented into an existing optical tracking system. For the surgeon, the only change is an additional small inertial sensor besides the optical markers already attached to the tool. The authors would like to thank the AXA Research Fund for funding G.C. Claasen's work with a doctoral grant and Guillaume Picard for his contributions to the experimental setup

It is unusual, if not unique, for three major research papers concerned with the management of the fractured neck of femur (FNOF) to be published in a short period of time, each describing large prospective randomized clinical trials. These studies were conducted in up to 17 countries worldwide, involving up to 80 surgical centers and include large numbers of patients (up to 2,900) with FNOF. Each article investigated common clinical dilemmas; the first paper comparing total hip arthroplasty versus hemiarthroplasty for FNOF, the second as to whether ‘fast track’ care offers improved clinical outcomes and the third, compares sliding hip with multiple cancellous hip screws. Each paper has been deemed of sufficient quality and importance to warrant publication in The Lancet or the New England Journal of Medicine. Although ‘premier’ journals, they only occationally contain orthopaedic studies and thus may not be routinely read by the busy orthopaedic/surgical clinician of any grade. It is therefore our intention with this present article to accurately summarize and combine the results of all three papers, presenting, in our opinion, the most important clinically relevant facts.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-6:198–202.