Latest news from Trauma and Orthopaedics

Researchers from the Pulvertaft Hand Centre at Royal Derby Hospital are leading the way in a pioneering national study to determine the most effective treatment for thumb base arthritis, a condition that affects millions of people across the UK.

Base of thumb osteoarthritis (BTOA) is a common and painful condition, affecting one in five people over the age of 40. The condition can make simple everyday tasks such as opening jars, turning keys, or even writing, extremely difficult. This can heavily impact the person's independence, work, and overall quality of life.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) hosted a visit by Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of NHS Confederation, who met nationally recognised teams and praised the innovation on display during his time at Royal Derby Hospital (RDH).

A simple change to how our patients stay hydrated before surgery has helped to transform patient experiences across our hospitals by improving comfort, safety, and clinical outcomes. The project, Sip Til Send, allows patients undergoing a procedure under anaesthetic or sedation to sip up to 170ml of water every hour before they are seen - and has recently celebrated its first year in place at UHDB.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) colleagues are hosting this year's surgical congress meeting led by the Association of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeons (ALSGBI) after leading the way nationally in robotic surgery for specialist abdominal wall hernia and complex pancreatic and biliary procedures.

The President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has praised University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) colleagues for a 'thoroughly interesting and enjoyable visit' last month in which he spoke to our leading surgeons and teams, learnt about the strategic investments in our 'impressive portfolio' of state-of-the-art surgical technology and facilities, and discussed the NHS landscape for the surgical profession.

The Royal College of Physicians published their 2023 National Hip Fracture Database report on 2022, which positions Queen's Hospital Burton with the third highest 30-day survival rates for patients admitted for hip fractures. Following this achievement, the team at QHB were recognised with a Making a Difference CEO Award.

The team behind the use of a state-of-the-art new robotic surgery which is improving the experience and outcomes for patients undergoing knee and hip replacements at UHDB, while also reducing costs for the NHS, has had their pioneering work recognised by Chief Executive Stephen Posey.

Patients who are having a knee or hip replacement at UHDB are benefitting from a state-of-the-art robot that helps assist their procedure, delivering more accurate, less invasive surgery, reduced recovery times, and improved outcomes for patients.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) has been selected as one of only a handful of hospital trusts in the UK to welcome the use of a state-of-the-art new robot to carry out certain joint replacement procedures.

The new technology, called the Stryker MAKO robot, is now being used by surgeons at Royal Derby Hospital and so far has been used in around 25 cases.

Last week, we embarked on an exciting new project that will revolutionise healthcare delivery at Royal Derby Hospital. With around £10m of investment, the Kings Treatment Centre will expand to include a brand-new facility, providing state-of-the-art clinical facilities for planned operations and surgery, positioning us at the forefront of healthcare delivery in the UK.

This will bring immense benefits to our patients, with the main goal of the project to directly enhance the experience of the many thousands of people who require surgery throughout the year. By reducing waiting times for operations, we estimate that we will be able to increase the number of daycase and inpatient procedures by over 2,500 patients annually.