Sam Martin
Grafton Base Hospital, Australia
Title: Making less fuss of knee replacement surgery in Australia and the inexorable trend towards day stay
Biography
Biography: Sam Martin
Abstract
The increasing demand for definitive treatment of degenerative knee disorders continues to pressure the healthcare system, with availability of hospital beds particularly contentious. Within this context, surgical efficiency has seen dramatic improvements over time, with steady reductions in length of stay and increased confidence in patient outcomes. At Grafton Hospital, knee replacement cases have been discharged earlier over recent years and day stay surgery appears within reach. The same aspects that are improving the possibility of making single total knee replacements a day procedure can be implemented to decrease the barriers in performing bilateral surgery. Day surgery for knee replacement may not be suited to every patient and doctor, however it is a safe and effective treatment method established and utilised widely overseas. In this presentation, Dr Martin will outline the fast track framework within a regional Australian context for joint replacement and review the outcomes of these protocols in other settings. In addition, he will outline the key factors that can be implemented to improve postoperative function, which extends beyond pain control and patient comfort.
