Hospital accreditation and patient care, a dilemma?

There are concerns that increased BMI is associated with a greater length of stay (LOS) and perioperative complications following total knee (TKR) and total hip replacements (THR). We analysed data from a six-month period to see if there was a correlation between BMI and LOS. We performed a subgroup analysis for patients with morbid obesity (BMI >40) looking at perioperative complications. 285 TKRs and 195 THRs were analysed. For TKRs, the average length of stay was 2.7 days. The average BMI was 32.4. There was no significant correlation between BMI and LOS (r=-0.0447, p=0.2267). The morbidly obese category (n=33) had the shortest LOS (2.5 days) compared to other BMI categories. 30- day readmission rate was 6%. 90-day re-admission rate was 12%. Six patients had minor wound issues requiring no intervention or antibiotics only. The was one prosthetic joint infection, one stitch abscess, one DVT and one patellar tendon injury. For THRs, the average LOS was 2.9 days. The average BMI was 29.9. There was no significant correlation between BMI and LOS (r=0.007, p=0.4613). The morbid obese category (n=9) had the shortest LOS (1.9 days) compared to other BMI categories. No patients were readmitted within 90 days or had documented complications. We have shown that for TKRs and THRs, increased BMI is not associated with increased LOS. The morbidly obese were found to have the shortest LOS. Re-admission rates and complications were commendable for patients with morbid obesity. BMI >40 is not a contraindication to TKR or THR.

Successful Reimplantation of an 18-cm-Long Extruded Femur in an Open Fracture: A Case Report.

CASE: A 45-year-old man presented with a Gustillo Anderson type III A open segmental right femur shaft fracture with intercondylar extension and with an 18-cm extruded segment of bone. After sterilization, the segment of bone was reimplanted. The fracture healed, and the patient is ambulant without support with no signs of any infection after 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of open fracture with an extruded bone segment available, depending on the timing of presentation, soft tissue status, and level of contamination of the bone segment, reimplantation of the extruded bone can yield a satisfactory result.