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Carbon savings associated with changing surgical trends in total knee arthroplasty in England: a retrospective observational study using administrative data

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Best practice pathways for common surgical procedures, including total knee arthroplasty (TKA), have the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce carbon emissions. We aimed to estimate the reduction in carbon emissions due to changing trends in the care of patients undergoing TKA in England. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of Hospital Episode Statistics data from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2022 on adults undergoing elective primary TKA in England. The carbon footprint for each patient was calculated using carbon factors for multiple steps in the pathway, including ipsilateral knee arthroscopies in the year preceding the TKA, outpatient attendances, the index TKA, revisions of the TKA performed within 180 days of the index procedure, length of hospital stay and emergency readmissions. RESULTS: e would have been saved, enough to power 29,509 UK homes for one year. CONCLUSIONS: Practices that were introduced primarily to improve patient outcomes can contribute to a reduction in the carbon footprint.

Source: Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England

DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2024.0035

Authors: E Ojelade, J Koris, H Begum, M Van-Hove, TWR Briggs, WK Gray

Institutions: Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, NHS England, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Exeter

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W4402199591

FWCI: 0.353

Cites: 14

Cited by: 3

Related to: 10