Getting you back on your feet

Jul 4 2008 by Karen Wilson, The Journal

EXPLORATORY hip surgery began as far back as 1958 and the first full hip replacement operation was carried out in 1962. Today, 130,000 hip and knee replacements are carried out in the UK each year.

Professor John Charnley perfected the technique, and in those early days patients were asked whether they would donate the replacement hip back to the hospital when they died – 99% of patients agreed to this.

Today, 60 years after the birth of the NHS, pioneering fast track surgery allows patients to have a hip resurfacing operation and be back on their feet and walking out of the hospital 24 hours later.

About 80 patients have been among the first in England to benefit from the new fast track system which has enabled them to walk out of hospital unaided; normally it takes these patients three to four days to feel confident enough to leave hospital after such an operation.

The key to the success of the new system is using a low dose spinal anaesthetic and empowering patients by educating them about the operation, what is to be expected and how quickly they will recover. Patients are admitted and have their surgery on the same day and are well enough to be up and walking just a few hours later following intense physiotherapy.

Orthopaedic consultants from Northumbria Healthcare and physiotherapist Diane Williams came up with the plan to help patients recover more quickly and get on with their lives after hearing how Scottish colleagues were offering the service to their patients.

Consultant Mike Reed who led the project said: “We wanted Northumbria patients to have the same opportunity to have their operations and leave hospital quickly to get on with their lives. Staff had to completely change their working hours to fit around this type of surgery, so that the patient can get the maximum benefit.

“Our whole pathway of patient care has been re-written to introduce this fast-track system which involves not just the surgeons and nursing staff – physiotherapists also have a big role to play in making this successful.”

Our whole pathway of patient care has been re-written to introduce this fast-track system