Interior Health is reviewing of hip and knee total joint replacement surgical processes at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in light of a slight increase in the number of surgical site infections in elective (scheduled) total joint replacement surgeries.
The KBRH surgeons who provide joint replacement surgeries are postponing elective total hip and knee replacements while this review takes place.
“Providing safe, quality care is a priority and our goal is to minimize any risks for patients when they come to hospital for treatment,” Jane Cusden, Kootenay Boundary acute health services administrator, said in a news release.
IH regrets the impact for patients whose surgeries are being postponed and will rebook these patients as priority cases once total joint replacement services resume.
Interior Health has already been examining recent infection cases as well as the OR processes and the OR environment at the hospital.
This review will provide additional expert feedback and guidance, given recent infections in total joint replacement cases have not been attributed to one specific cause.
“Surgical infections can result from a wide range of factors. These factors can be specific to the patients themselves, or pre-or post-operative care. We are looking for additional information through this review to support quality care for Kootenay Boundary patients,” says Cusden.
The review is scheduled to commence the week of Dec. 4 and is specific to orthopedic surgery for total hip and knee joint replacements.
It will be comprehensive, covering all aspects of these joint replacement surgical processes – from pre-surgical screening all the way through to post-operative care – as well as the OR environment, measured against current standards and best practices.
Only total hip and knee elective joint replacement procedures are being postponed as a result of this issue.
Other surgeries are proceeding as normal. OR time previously dedicated for joints is being used for other patients awaiting surgery.