orthopaedics | ARMA

AI, data and the future of orthopaedics

Guest blog by Dr Arash Angadji, Chief Executive, Orthopaedic Research UK

I was talking to a PhD student who has recently received one of our fellowship grants to research the use of statistical modelling to help better predict patient outcomes, who told me, ‘I am part of that generation that has grown up with computers, so It feels natural to ask how we can we exploit this technology. We are all getting more on board with the idea of smart technology and wearable devices and questioning why we are not applying these technologies to our patients.’…

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Orthopaedic recruitment during COVID

NOA Webinar: COVID Orthopaedic Recovery: National and International recruitment

16 February 2022 at 1pm

The first National Orthopaedic Alliance webinar for 2022 will look at national and international recruitment.

Probably the biggest issue impeding orthopaedic surgery recovery is staffing. Many members of staff have left the NHS, retired early or have long term medical and/or mental health issues that limit their ability to work.

This has resulted in staffing shortages across various orthopaedic services in particular, theatre staffing. Providers are desperate to retain staff but also want to recruit the best people for the job which sometimes means looking overseas.…

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Orthopaedic recovery webinar

NOA Webinar – Orthopaedic Recovery: Prioritisation and Harms Review

17 November 2021 at 1pm

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented us with a major challenge in orthopaedic recovery. The inevitable delays mean we need to ensure the most urgent cases are given the correct priority and that we identify potential and real harm during this process. This has meant a big increase in work for Clinicians and supporting management. The next NOA webinar focuses on this challenge and hears from three NOA member organisations sharing their experiences.…

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BOA Annual Congress 2021 opens to general registration

General registration for the BOA Annual Congress 2021 opened on Monday 24 May. Early Bird registration is now closed.

The Congress will be held for the first time at P&J Live, The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA). It will be one of the largest annual gatherings of trauma and orthopaedics professionals in the UK and hopefully one of the first live events since the start of the pandemic.

Sessions include:

Revalidation and hot topic sessions by specialist societies
Naughton Dunn Lecture delivered by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and BOA Honorary Secretary, Simon Hodkinson
The John Charnley Lecture delivered by Medical Director, Chief Surgeon, ENDO-Clinic, Hamburg, Professor Thorsten Gehrke
Sir Walter Mercer Lecture delivered by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Professor Robin Paton
King James IV Professorship Lecture delivered by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Professor Martin McNally

Further information about the Congress sessions can be accessed on the programme page of programme page the BOA website.…

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Outcomes data collection in orthopaedics

The latest NOA guest blog post by Rebecca Lafferty, national PROMS network co-ordinator and outcomes manager (Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) looks at outcomes data collection in orthopaedics and outlines her personal experience of outcomes pathways and processes.

Outcomes data collection can mean different things to different people. It depends on the provider and how the data collection process is set up. In some units, the data collected contributes to a bigger picture through national data sets such as the National Joint Registry, National Ligament Registry and Non-Arthroplasty Hip Registry.…

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#BestMSKHealth programme launch

NHS England has launched a new programme with the aim of sustaining the delivery of evidence-informed, personalised, high-quality integrated healthcare of value to all. This new initiative, part of the Pathways for Better Health Programme, significantly increases the resource to support MSK service delivery.

The programme covers the breadth of MSK including orthopaedics, rheumatology and pain, spanning primary secondary and community services. You can watch the launch event here.

The programme has ten workstreams, each led by a relevant clinical specialist:

Diagnostics
Orthopaedics
Rheumatology
Primary and Community MSK Provision
Spinal Services
Falls, Fragility Fractures and Osteoporosis
Data, Validation and Coding
Communications and Developing MSK Networks
Supporting those with Long Term MSK Conditions
Outpatients

There is the intention to ensure that the programme is coproduced involving the range of stakeholders including people with lived experience and patient organisations.…

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BOA position on suspending surgery due to COVID-19

With cases of COVID-19 currently rising across the UK, there are discussions of a second wave resulting in a spike in COVID-19 -related hospital admissions this autumn. In the first wave many of the activities of the NHS were put on hold as a precaution to preserve capacity. This was understandable in the face of a rapidly escalating and unpredictable threat. However, the BOA is keen to help ensure that in the event of a second wave the normal care of our patients is only suspended as a consequence of absolute necessity.…

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BOA Patient statement regarding COVID-19 and elective care

The British Orthopaedic Association has published their latest patient statement for those people currently awaiting elective surgery, many of whom are experiencing uncertainties and difficulties. Growing waiting lists are affecting all planned surgery, but particularly orthopaedics (bone and joint treatment) which has the largest overall waiting list of any individual specialty.

The BOA has created this statement to provide some information and guidance to support patients during this time. If you could please pass this on to help reach those affected it would be most appreciated.…

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BOA – People waiting for orthopaedic surgery

A British Orthopaedic Association message to people waiting for joint replacement and other orthopaedic surgery

Growing waiting lists are affecting all planned surgery, but particularly orthopaedics which has the largest overall waiting list of any individual specialty. The BOA’s statement [published 26 June 2020] is a response to the concern, frustration and a lack of information available to people waiting for surgery. It explains how services can restart, gives advice on what to do, and provides resources to help people while they wait, as well as some FAQs.…

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The changing landscape of orthopaedic services in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Guest blog by

Cormac Kelly, Consultant Upper Limb Surgeon at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

and

Peter Kay, National Orthopaedic Alliance (NOA) Lead Clinician and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The COVID-19 crisis has changed the delivery of planned orthopaedic surgery drastically. As the pandemic continues to subside, the NHS, with various guidance from Public Health England, Medical and Surgical Colleges, the British Orthopaedic Association, and others, is working on a plan to get surgery back on track.…

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