Introduction
This closed-loop audit aimed to assess the reduction in the length of hospital stay following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery and to ensure alignment with the "Getting It Right First Time" (GIRFT) guidelines, which advocates for ACL surgery as a day case procedure.
Method
The audit was conducted in two cycles. Initially, data on hospital stay rates after ACL surgery were collected and analysed from 1st August 2021 to 31st May 2022, revealing a 30% hospital admission rate. Interventions were then implemented to encourage day-case surgeries, including enhanced patient and nursing staff education, postoperative protocols like routine VTE Prophylaxis, improving the quality of physiotherapy input and streamlined discharge planning. A second audit cycle was conducted to assess the impact of these changes from 1st March 2024 to 30th August 2024.
Results
The second cycle of the audit demonstrated a significant reduction in hospital stays after ACL surgery, with the rate of overnight admission decreasing from 30% to 4.34%. This outcome aligns closely with the GIRFT guidelines, which stress on day-case management for ACL surgeries to optimize resource use and improve patient outcomes.
Conclusions
The closed-loop audit successfully reduced the length of hospital stay following ACL surgery, thereby optimising hospital resources and also improving patient satisfaction. This demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted interventions and protocol adjustments in improving healthcare efficiency and patient care post-ACL surgery.
Authors
Sunandan Datta
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Newport, United Kingdom