Introducing Virtual Prehabilitation to a UK Elective Total Hip Replacement service to improve patient outcomes: An overview of the literature and proposed implementation plan

Elective Total Hip Replacement (THR) surgery is one of the most common elective surgeries in the UK, costing the National Health Service (NHS) over £300,000,000 annually. A review of the literature identified preoperative rehabilitation, known as ‘prehabilitation’, improves patient outcomes and decreases Length Of hospital Stay (LOS). This approach follows NICE guidelines which recommend prehabilitation for all patients undergoing joint replacement surgery. Challenges accessing prehabilitation classes at UK hospitals due to inadequate transport and COVID-19 restrictions present an opportunity to provide prehabilitation virtually. Physiotherapy services are increasingly utilising technology, in line with The NHS Long Term Plan to increase service accessibility. A review of the literature has established virtual prehabilitation is effective, feasible, and preferable for patients. Quality Improvement methodology has been used to propose an implementation plan for a virtual prehabilitation service. Further research is required to create a standardised prehabilitation protocol, and to assess the long-term effects and sustainability of virtual prehabilitation.