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DISCHARGE OF AN INPATIENT AFTER TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY: DOES INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY OFFER ANY ADVANTAGE?

University Hospital Lewisham. London

Increased emphasis has been placed on hospital length of stay and discharge planning after total joint arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to identify patient characteristics and assistance of surgical innovation could reduce length of stay of an inpatient after TJA.

Method: We analysed demographic and Clinical data 92 consecutive patients who underwent primary TKR with computer assisted surgery [n=46] and compare with another group operated with manual technique[n=46].

Result: Average length of stay: 8.87days (+/– 5.16 SD) in the navigation group and 7.59days (+/– 3.82 SD) in the manual group. Older age, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class, social circumstances, and female sex were all associated with a higher likelihood of discharge to an ECF.

Conclusion: No Significant differences in length of stay patterns were found in this cohort with respect to discharge disposition at home after knee joint replacement. We believe to reduce length of stay while maintaining quality of care, early discharge home with integrated community services or home care nursing and physiotherapy should be more important than surgical innovation in the NHS in U.K

Correspondence should be addressed to Mr Bimal Singh, c/o BOSA at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE