Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the relationship between patient characteristics and referral decisions made by musculoskeletal hubs, and to assess the possible impact of an evidence-based referral tool. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of medical records and decision tree model evaluating policy changes using local and national data. SETTING: One musculoskeletal interface clinic (hub) in England. PARTICIPANTS: 922 adults aged ≥50 years referred by general practitioners with symptoms of knee or hip osteoarthritis. INTERVENTIONS: We assessed the current frequency and determinants of referrals from one hub and the change in referrals that would occur at this centre and nationally if evidence-based thresholds for referral (Oxford Knee and Hip Scores, OKS/OHS) were introduced. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: OKS/OHS, referrals for surgical assessment, referrals for arthroplasty, costs and quality-adjusted life years. RESULTS: Of 110 patients with knee symptoms attending face-to-face hub consultations, 49 (45%) were referred for surgical assessment; the mean OKS for these 49 patients was 18 (range: 1-41). Of 101 hip patients, 36 (36%) were referred for surgical assessment (mean OHS: 21, range: 5-44). No patients referred for surgical assessment were above previously reported economic thresholds for OKS (43) or OHS (45). Setting thresholds of OKS ≤31 and OHS ≤35 might have resulted in an additional 22 knee referrals and 26 hip referrals in our cohort. Extrapolating hub results across England suggests a possible increase in referrals nationally, of around 13 000 additional knee replacements and 4500 additional hip replacements each year. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal hubs currently consider OKS/OHS and other factors when making decisions about referral to secondary care for joint replacement. Those referred typically have low OHS/OKS, and introducing evidence-based OKS/OHS thresholds would prevent few inappropriate (high-functioning, low-pain) referrals. However, our findings suggest that some patients not currently referred could benefit from arthroplasty based on OKS/OHS. More research is required to explore other important patient characteristics currently influencing hub decisions.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-028915

Type

Journal article

Journal

Bmj open

Publication Date

02/07/2020

Volume

10

Keywords

arthroplasty, hip replacement, knee replacement, osteoarthritis, prioritisation, Adult, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip, England, Humans, Middle Aged, Models, Theoretical, Referral and Consultation, Retrospective Studies