Medical device reduces bed days for ankle fracture patients

A medical device has been clinically proven to reduce pre-operative oedema in ankle fracture patients, reducing patient bed days and costs for the NHS.

Medical device developer Firstkind’s geko device has been shown to save two patient bed days per patient on average when compared to all other methods. By reducing the time it takes for patients to go in for surgery, hospitals can save around £570 on every patient with geko.

Oedema is the build-up of fluid in the body, resulting in tissue becoming swollen. Pre-operative oedema can delay surgery for ankle fracture patients due to the risks associated with operating on swollen tissue.

Patients needing ankle fracture surgery are currently prepared for theatre by having their leg elevated in combination with a backslab plaster cast. A study of the geko device at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, showed that pre-operative bed days were reduced from 3.66 to 1.66 days per patient, meaning that operations could be carried out sooner.  

Paul Baker, orthopaedic consultant and clinical lead of the research team, said: “We saw the potential for the geko device to significantly improve current care pathways for our surgically treated ankle fractures. The prospective and retrospective study, completed in partnership with Sky Medical Technology, shows the geko device can be used safely and effectively in this patient population and can help to streamline care”.

Ross, CEO of Firstkind and its parent company Sky Medical Technology, commented: “Preventing further delays to surgery and reducing waiting lists is currently high on the agenda for the NHS following recent reports that the estimated number of people waiting for operations in June exceeded four million, the highest figure in a decade. Pre-operative oedema management improves efficiencies for surgeons by enabling more patents to remain theatre ready while waiting for a slot in the theatre schedule”.

The device is a daily use, disposable, self-adhesive that stimulates the common peroneal nerve activating the calf and foot muscle pumps. This helps increase blood flow in the deep veins of the calf and reduce oedema. The increase in blood flow is equivalent to 60% of walking without the patients needing to move. The NHS is also using the geko device to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis, a particular risk for stroke patients.

Bernard Ross continued: “Not only is patient wellbeing improved by a shorter time-to-surgery, but successful oedema management may have a role in improved post-operative wound closure and reduced surgical site infection, enabling clinicians to safely discharge patients sooner following surgery.

Whilst the geko device has already achieved NICE guidance and FDA clearance for reducing the risk of DVT, this new study provides further evidence that our platform technology, OnPulse, has the potential to serve a wide range of clinical applications and to make substantial cost and efficiency savings for healthcare providers.”