Over 62,000 total hip arthroplasty (THA) cases are performed each year in Canada, with an estimated annual healthcare system cost of $1.4 billion and resulting in 4 billion tonnes of waste annually (6,600 tonnes per day). The aims of this study were 1) Assess satisfaction of current/standard set-up amongst different stakeholders. 2) Assess energy, economic and waste cost of current set up and apply lean methodology to improve efficiency 3. Design and test SLIM setup based on lean principles and its ability to be safely implemented into everyday practice.

A Needs Assessment Survey was circulated to OR nursing staff to assess the need for change in the current THA OR setup at an academic tertiary referral hospital. Through feedback, surgeon input, and careful analysis of current instrumentation, the “SLIM setup” was created. Standard instrument tray numbers for elective THA were reduced from 9 to 3 trays. Eighty patients were then randomised to either the standard or SLIM setup. Four staff arthroplasty surgeons each randomised 20 patients to either standard or SLIM setup. OR time, blood loss, 90-day complication rates, cost/case, instrument weight (kg/case), total waste in kg/case (non-recyclable), case set-up time, and number of times and number of extra trays required were compared between groups.

The majority of nursing staff demonstrated dissatisfaction with the current THA setup and felt current processes lacked efficiency. Use of the SLIM setup, was associated with the following savings in comparison to standard (Trays = −6 (720kg/case); Waste = −1.5 kg/case; Cost = − $560 ($50.00 × 6 trays + 10min saved × $26.00 /min OR setup time)). OR time, blood loss and 90-day complication rate were not statistically different (p >0.05); however, set up time was significantly shorter in comparison to standard. Extra instrumentation was opened in < 10% of cases.

A more minimalist approach to THA can be undertaken using the SLIM setup, potentially resulting in cost, energy and waste savings. Estimate savings of $560,000 and 1.65 tonnes reduction in waste per 1,000 THAs performed may be realised.

Management of acetabular fractures in the elderly population remains somewhat controversial in regards to when to consider is open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) versus acute primary total hip. study aims to (1) describe outcome of this complex problem and investigate predictors of successful outcome.

This retrospective study analyzes all acetabular fractures in patients over the age of 60, managed by ORIF at a tertiary trauma care centre between 2007 and 2018 with a minimum follow up of one year. Of the 117 patients reviewed, 85 patients undergoing ORIF for treatment of their acetabular fracture were included in the analysis. The remainder were excluded based management option including acute ORIF with THA (n=10), two-stage ORIF (n=2), external fixator only (n=1), acute THA (n=1), and conservative management (n=1). The remainder were excluded based on inaccessible medical records (n=6), mislabelled diagnosis (n=6), associated femoral injuries (n=4), acetabular fracture following hemiarthroplasty (n=1). The mean age of the cohort is 70±7 years old with 74% (n=62) of patients being male. Data collected included: demographics, mechanism of injury, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), ASA Grade, smoking status and reoperations. Pre-Operative Radiographs were analyzed to determine the Judet and Letournel fracture pattern, presence of comminution and posterior wall marginal impaction. Postoperative radiographs were used to determine Matta Grade of Reduction. Outcome measures included morbidity-, mortality- rates, joint survival, radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) using the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) at follow-up. A poor outcome in ORIF was defined as one of the following: 1) conversion to THA or 2) the presence of radiographic OA, combined with an OHS less than 34 (findings consistent with a hip that would benefit from a hip replacement). The data was analyzed step-wise to create a regression model predictive of outcome following ORIF.

Following ORIF, 31% (n=26) of the cohort had anatomic reduction, while 64% (n=54) had imperfect or poor reduction. 4 patients did not have adequate postoperative radiographs to assess the reduction. 31 of 84 patients undergoing ORIF had a complication of which 22.6% (n=19) required reoperation. The most common reason being conversion to THA (n=14), which occurred an average of 1.6±1.9 years post-ORIF. The remainder required reoperation for infection (n=5). Including those converted to THA, 43% (n=36) developed radiographic OA following acetabular fracture management. The mean OHS in patients undergoing ORIF was 36 ± 10; 13(16%) had an OHS less than 34. The results of the logistic regression demonstrate that Matta grade of reduction (p=0.017), to be predictive of a poor outcome in acetabular fracture management. With non-anatomic alignment following fixation, patients had a 3 times greater risk of a poor outcome. No other variables were found to be predictive of ORIF outcome.

The ability to achieve anatomic reduction of fracture fragments as determined by the Matta grade, is predictive of the ability to retain the native hip with acceptable outcome following acetabular fracture in the elderly. Further research must be conducted to determine predictors of adequate reduction in order to identify candidates for ORIF.