Typical UK patients spend 5–7 days in hospital following total hip replacement (THR). Decreasing length of stay (LOS) increases throughput and reduces cost. We have developed a short stay THR programme (SSP), which has been used in all patients since May 2006; we present the first 100. Every patient undergoing THR is included in the dataset. All attend ‘bone school’ before admission, with talks and individual assessments by the senior sister, physiotherapist and occupational therapist. Medical concerns are discussed with an anaesthetist. Patients receive training with crutches; crutches are provided for home practice. All receive an uncemented Corail-Pinnacle THR via piriformis-sparing mini-posterior approach. ‘Low dose’ spinal plus light general anaesthesia provides sensory block whilst retaining motor function; painfree fully weightbearing mobilisation is predictably achieved within four hours. Following radiograph and haemoglobin check next morning, patients are discharged on meeting specific nursing/physiotherapy criteria. Those within 20 miles receive outreach follow-up. Follow-up assessment is undertaken using SF36, Visual Analogue, Merle d'Aubigné-Postel and Oxford Hip Scores.Introduction
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