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UTILISATION OF REDUNDANT TIME ON TRAUMA LIST FOR CARPAL TUNNEL DECOMPRESSION

Department of Orthopaedics, Southampton University Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD

Efficient utilisation of the trauma list is an important aspect of trauma care in the NHS. An audit of the trauma theatre time utilisation was done from April 1999 to March 2000. Ideally the first case should start at 8:30 am. However, we found that the first patient was on the operating table only by 9:40 am (mean). The main reasons for the delay were the time required for the anaesthetist to see the patient and the other staff to set up the necessary equipments. We decided to identify the first case of the trauma list the day before, so that the anaesthetist can review the patient the previous day. We felt that this would also give adequate time for the theatre staff to set up their instruments. However, this did not improve the theatre timings.

We introduced the novel idea of performing a carpal tunnel decompression at the beginning of each trauma list to make use of the redundant time without an extra financial burden to the hospital. Carpal tunnel decompression can be performed under local anaesthetic by a basic grade surgeon. This would also give time for the anaesthetist and the consultant surgeon to review the patients on the trauma list.

The theatre time utilisation was re-audited a year following the introduction of carpal tunnel release. The patient for carpal tunnel decompression was on table at 8:44 am (mean). The first trauma case was on operating table at 9:46 am (mean). Therefore, in spite of performing an additional surgery on the list, there was a delay of only 6 minutes. This simple idea has helped us to do an additional case every day with only a 6 minute delay to the trauma list.

The abstracts were prepared by Mr Tim Briggs. (Editoral Secretary 2003/4) Correspondence should be addressed to him at Lane Farm, Chapel Lane, Totternhoe, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 2BZ, United Kingdom