It costs the NHS £2billion/year to treat 70000 hip fractures. Following hemiarthroplasty a departmental x-ray is standard practice.

During 2009 217 hemiarthroplasties were performed in our unit. 210 had postoperative radiographs (148 departmental, 62 in theatre). All patient demographics were considered and hospital costs accounted for.

Mean patient age was 83 (55-100) years. Mean theatre times were 120 (51-213) minutes in the departmental x-ray group and 128 (74-187) minutes in the theatre imaging group. Hospital stay was decreased from 12.8 (3-41) days in the departmental x-ray group to 11.8 (3-32) days in the theatre imaging group. Orthopaedic beds cost £136/day. Departmental x-rays give a radiation dose of ∼12mGy and costs £48.30, theatre imaging gives ∼0.26mGy with no additional cost given the radiographers previous allocation to the list.

Changing our practice to intra-theatre imaging has improved patient safety, reduced the average inpatient stay and saves our trust approximately £40,000 annually.