What is Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR)?

ACLR refers to surgery in which a damaged ligament is replaced with healthy, strong tissue (a graft) taken from an area near the knee. Arthroscopic ACLR is the gold standard treatment for active patients to restore knee stability and improve functional outcomes. Arthroscopy is the technique of inserting a small camera through small incisions to view, diagnose, and perform certain repairs to the affected area.

Why is ACLR done?

ACLR is performed to restore the stability of the knee joint, which is affected due to torn ligaments.

Value-Based Health Care Benefits

Patients

  • Lower costs
  • Better outcome

Providers

  • Higher patient satisfaction rates
  • Better care efficiencies

Payors

  • Stronger cost controls
  • Reduced risks

Society

  • Reduced healthcare expenses
  • Better overall health

What are Value Driven Outcomes (VDO)?

Value Driven Outcomes is a simple concept of improving care for patients with the aim to drive down costs. Its fundamental factors are based on overall patient wellness and preventive measures. Achieving this goal involves making adjustment in terms of how patients receive medical treatment, taking into consideration of overall wellness, quality of care, and preventive screenings. This ultimately results in better healthcare outcomes.

At Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, we aim to make healthcare proactive rather than reactive, preventing problems from occurring before they start. In view of that, we had designed a Value Driven Outcomes (VDO) framework for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR), in which pre-set quality indicators were used to determine cost rationalisation.

ACLR Quality Indicators (benchmarks)

  1. Prophylactic Antibiotic received within 1 hour prior to surgical incision

    Prophylactic antibiotic administration, along with proper sterile surgical techniques reduces the rate of local and systemic infection, leading to better patient outcomes. Failure to provide adequate infection prophylaxis can possibly lead to septic arthritis, which is a knee joint infection that can delay the recovery time post-surgery and limits functional abilities.

  2. No Blood Transfusion given during Intraoperative or Postoperative arthroscopic ACLR cases

    Although ACLR is a minimally invasive and relatively safe surgery, there are possible complications that may arise. Minimising blood loss intraoperatively is crucial, as perioperative blood loss requiring blood transfusion is associated with numerous adverse effects. Reducing these adverse events can improve surgical outcomes, resulting in faster patient recovery.

  3. No Complications during arthroscopic ACLR index admission

    Having knowledge of arthroscopic ACLR complication rates is crucial for surgeons to provide an accurate depiction of the risks and benefits associated with the procedure. Effective identification of modifiable patient and surgical risk factors can help to further reduce complications.

  4. No Readmission for complications within 30 days post arthroscopic ACLR

    This metric is an essential indicator that measures patient clinical outcome and healthcare system performance. Although arthroscopic ACLR is associated with limited postoperative complications, some of them could be a common cause of unplanned hospital re-admission.

  5. No 20 Group-Wide Serious Reportable Events (SRE) Categories reported

    To monitor, evaluate and review the various serious reportable events occurring in the hospitals and to take corrective actions to address identified issues. This will help to prevent the recurrence of similar events, allowing for cross-learning and identifying key areas for improvement.

Where does Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur stand

Against International Benchmark

Clinical IndicatorsInternational Benchmark20222023
Prophylactic Antibiotic received within 1 hour prior to surgical incision96,9%100%100%
No Blood Transfusion given during Intraoperative or Postoperative arthroscopic ACLR cases97%94%100%
No Complications during arthroscopic ACLR index admission96.9%100%100%
No Readmission for complications within 30 days post arthroscopic ACLR96.8%100%94%
No 20 Group wide serious reportable events categories reported100%100%100%

Reference:

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  15. Ejaz A, Gonzalez AA, Gani , Pawlik TM. Effect of Index Hospitalization Costs on Readmission Among Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery. JAMA surgery. 2016;: 151(8):718-724.
  16. Boddapati , Fu MC, Nwachukwu BU, Camp CL, Spiker AM, Williams RJ, et al. Procedure length is independently associated with overnight hospital and 30-day readmission following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 2020; 28(2): 432–438.
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