In the current austere financial climate within the NHS where local healthcare Trusts are reimbursed in a Payment by Results system it is important that we accurately identify the costs associated with surgical procedures.

We retrospectively reviewed data of 589 consecutive patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty surgery and recorded their age, BMI and co-morbidities. The effect of these parameters on operative duration and length of stay (LOS) was analysed.

We demonstrate that for a 1 point increase in BMI we expect LOS to increase by a factor of 2.9% (p<0.0001) and mean theatre time to increase by 1.46 minutes (p<0.0001). We also show that for a l-year increase in age, we expect LOS to increase by a factor of 1.2% (p<0.0001).

We have calculated the extra financial costs associated with this and believe that the current OPCS coding system for obesity underestimates the financial impact of increasing BMI and age on lower limb arthroplasty Trusts are being inadequately reimbursed.

The results of this study have been used to produce a chart that allows prediction of LOS following lower limb arthroplasty based on BMI and age. We also believe that the data produced is of use in planning operating lists.

Unicompartmental knee replacements offer improved function with more rapid recovery compared to TKR. There is no published experience with introducing this procedure as a day case in the UK. We report on our experience with a new protocol allowing the patient to be discharged on the day of surgery.

A new combination of anaesthetic and surgical techniques are employed. Paracetamol, ibuprofen and pregabalin are given pre-operatively. Patients receive a GA and a subsartorial saphenous nerve block is administered under ultrasound control. The surgery is performed using a routine minimally invasive technique. The joint and surrounding tissues are infiltrated with a combination of LA and adrenaline. Wound closure is with subcutaeneous suture and tissue glue.

Patients are mobilised on the day of surgery and if comfortable discharged on paracetamol, codeine, ibuprofen, tramadol P.R.N and buprenorphine patch.

Length of stay, pain scores, presence of nausea/vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, post-operative bleeding and patient satisfaction are all recorded.

18 out of 19 patients have been discharged on the day of surgery. All record high satisfaction.

Patients can be safely discharged on the day of surgery after UKR with high levels of satisfaction. We believe we are the first unit in the UK to achieve this.

Recent NICE guidelines have suggested abandoning the Thompson hemiarthroplasty (TH) in favour of a ‘proven prosthesis’ such as the Exeter Trauma Stem (ETS). This is controversial because of significant cost implications and limited research assessing outcomes of the ETS. The aim of this study was to assess the treatment of intracapsular neck of femur fractures with the TH.

Between 2002 and 2006 (minimum 5 year follow-up), 431 cemented TH's were performed. Death rate at 1 year and 5 years were 26.0% and 67.7% respectively. Dislocation (1.4%) and infection (0.2%) rates were low and revision rate was 1.2%. Comparison was made to Bipolar hemiarthroplasties over the same period (total 194). These had lower rates of dislocation (0.5%) and infection (0.5%) with a significantly higher (3.6%) revision rate.

We feel that the TH remains the current gold standard treatment for intracapsular fractures, in appropriate patients, due to low complication and revision rates. Modern implants may provide better function or longevity, but there is no evidence in the literature to support abandoning the TH. Surgeons should assess patients and decide on its use, despite NICE guidelines, as it remains a cost effective treatment method, particularly for older, less mobile and cognitively impaired patients.

Background

During cephalomedullary nail stabilisation of subtrochanteric femoral fractures, damage to the distal anterior femoral cortex by the nail is a recognised cause of periprosthetic fracture. Currently available cephalomedullary devices vary widely in anteroposterior curvature, though all are less curved than the mean anatomic human femur. This study tests the hypothesis that a cephalomedullary device with greater anteroposterior curvature will achieve a more favourable position in the distal femur, with greater distance of the nail tip from the anterior cortex, and therefore lower risk of cortical damage.