Independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) were introduced in October 2003 in the United Kingdom in order to reduce waiting times for elective operations and to improve patient choice and experience. Many concerns have been voiced from several authorities over a number of issues related to these centres. One of these concerns was regarding the practice of ‘cherry-picking’. Trusts are paid according to ‘payment by results’ at national tariffs. The national tariff is an average of costs occurring in an average mix of patients. The assumption is that the higher the co-morbidities of the patients the more likely they are to consume a higher amount of resource and to require a longer length of stay. Cherry-picking may also affect the quality of training available to trainees.

This audit was aimed at identifying if, and how much this practice occurs. It also identifies what affect this has on the case-load of patients left for the NHS hospitals.

We looked at the number of co-morbidities amongst 198 consecutive patients undergoing hip and knee primary total arthroplasty at an ISTC, a district general hospital whose PCTs provide patient to the ISTC (Doncaster Royal Infirmary - DRI), and a district general hospital in the same area whose PCT did not provide choice at that time and who therefore did not send patients to the ISTC (Bassetlaw District General Hospital - BDGH). We found a statistically significant difference in the number of co-morbidities per patient at the ISTC compared with the DRI (1.23 vs. 2.05) and the ISTC compared with the BDGH (1.23 vs. 1.76). We were unable to show a statistically significant difference between the DRI and the BDGH. We conclude that cherry-picking does take place, and further work should be done to assess the impact on training and finance.

To compare hallux valgus surgery performed by orthopaedic surgeons and podiatrists within the same Health Authority, a consecutive series of 50 patients operated on within the orthopaedic department for hallux valgus was compared with a group operated on by the podiatry surgeons within the same time period.

This retrospective study was performed by analysis of the case notes and radiographs. Data was collected on patient age, sex, comorbidity, anaesthetic, surgery, surgeon grade, post-operative rehabilitation and complications. Pre and post operative hallux valgus and intermetatarsal angles were measured.

Patient demographics showed no significant difference between the 2 groups. All but one patient in the orthopaedic group had a general anaesthetic whilst regional anaesthesia (ankle block) performed by the operating surgeon was used in all cases in the podiatry group.

There were 4 different operations in the orthopaedic group (Mitchells, Chevron, bunionectomy, Wilsons) compared with 2 in the podiatry group (Scarf, Kellers). Pre-operative radiological measurements revealed comparable groups with the correction obtained better in the podiatry group (HV angle 15° vs 10°; IM angle 7° vs 4°).

There were 13 complications in the podiatry group compared with 8 in the orthopaedic group.

9 patients in the podiatry group underwent re-operation to remove metalwork whilst no patients in the orthopaedic group required further surgery.

Within our region, orthopaedic and podiatry surgeons operate on the same type of patients with hallux valgus in respect to age, sex, comorbidity and radiological abnormality. There is marked difference in the anaesthetic techniques used. Correction obtained in the podiatry group was slightly better but at the expense of a higher complication and re-operation rate.

We reviewed 55 patients (78 feet) who had undergone silicone hemiarthroplasty of the first metatarsophalangeal joint for hallux valgus (40) or hallux rigidus (38). At a mean period of 4.5 years (1 to 11), 56 feet had radiological evidence suggestive of silicone granulomatous disease. The frequency and severity of the changes increased with time from the operation. Histological material from three revisions confirmed the presence of silicone granulomata. We recommend that the operation of silicone hemiarthroplasty for hallux valgus and hallux rigidus be abandoned.