869 A Comprehensive Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction and Safety in Elective Hip and Knee Replacement Surgeries During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, elective orthopaedic services were significantly delayed, raising concerns about the delivery of orthopaedic care. This study aims to evaluate patient safety, satisfaction, and service delivery in the context of elective hip and knee joint replacement procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method A prospective, single-centre study was conducted at Queen Hospital Burton (QHB) involving 100 patients who underwent elective orthopaedic procedures between mid-June 2020 and August 24, 2020. Patient characteristics, including demographics, COVID-19 risk stratification, procedure types, length of stay, complications, and outcomes, were recorded. Data collection involved standardized assessments and surveys to evaluate patient safety and satisfaction. Results The study sample had a mean age of 69.1 years, with females representing 59% of the participants. Most patients received spinal anaesthesia (85%), and the majority of procedures performed were total hip replacement (50%) and total knee replacement (41%). The average blood loss was 350.41 ml, with a low transfusion rate. Postoperative events were observed in 20% of patients, mainly related to acute kidney injury, urine retention, and electrolyte imbalances. There were no cases of COVID-19 contraction during hospitalization or after discharge. Only a small percentage of patients required transfer to the main site, and readmission rates were low. Conclusions The implementation of a COVID-free pathway for elective orthopaedic patients at QHB resulted in a safe patient environment, the absence of COVID-19 transmission, efficient transfer to the main site, enhanced patient experience, and a reduction in the waiting list.