Orthopaedic Surgery Unit

The Orthopaedic Surgery Unit provides precise, efficient and safe orthopaedic surgery without complication. Surgery is generally done in cooperation with multi-disciplinary team members, including surgeons, residents, fellows, anesthesiologist, recovery room nurse, patient wards, X-ray officers, blood bank, Department of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Siriraj Central Sterile Supply Department. The Orthopaedic Surgery Unit eight operating rooms and one septic operating room for patients with active infection problem.  In terms of nurse and nurse assistant manning, the unit ensures a good balance between workload and manpower. According to its 2014 productivity database, its average productivity is between 97%-118%. For extra hour special clinic, the unit offers four rooms and emergency surgery service by highly experienced team and with advanced technology and equipment. The unit has clearly set performance index according to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery’sClinical Practice Guideline for 13 diseases (including clinical tracer for 10 discuses). To ensure that such guideline is updated, regular review by multi-disciplinary team is regularly held. This allows the unit to quickly detect and solve problems.

Knee replacement has been identified as the Area of Excellence at the Orthopaedic Surgery Unit and is comparable with the University Hospital Network (UHOSNET). The Unit has participated in the Siriraj Clinical Tracer Plus (SiCT+) organized by the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital since 2012. This will enable the unit to become a role model in treating patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In 2014, the unit presented the progression of this project at the 15th HA National Forum held from 11-14 March 2014 at IMPACT Forum, Muang Thong Thani. It also presented works at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare 2014. Its presentation, in poster format, on “A Knee Arthroplasty Clinical Tracer Plus Project: Improving the Timing and Selection of Prophylactic Antibiotic Administration” was selected at the “Infection” seminar.

Research is also a major task of the unit. The Orthopaedic Surgery Unit has performed researches in cooperation with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, such as the researches on measurement of Knowledge of Pediatric Orthopaedic Patient in Education Program: The Diagnosis Plan, and the Evaluation of the Antibiotic Administration for Total Knee Arthroplasty under the Routine to Research (R2R) program. The Unit, in cooperation with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Anesthesiology has done a research titled “Can the Usage of Regional Block Room Save the Time in the Main OR?” to increase efficiency of operation room management. It worked with the Occupational Health Unit in studying on comparison of bacteria in operating room by collecting air sampling before and after operating room sterilization using hydrogen peroxide. The two projects were funded by the R2R (Routine to Research) Program. In addition, the Unit applies Lean concept in designing and improving work process to increase flexibility, stability and cost efficiency of the entire process and improving service efficiency and effectiveness. Example of such improvement programs are operating room equipment and supply management efficiency improvement and the tool and equipment management efficiency program. As a result, the Unit jointly with the multi-disciplinary team comprising perioperative nurse, Siriraj Sterile Supply Center and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery received the Gold Star Award 2013 – Lean-concept Innovation category. The award is a testimony of an organization development which becomes a good role model for internal and external organizations.

Thanks to its excellence, the Orthopaedic Surgery Unit has welcomed a large number of visitors to observe its work, especially in the orthopaedic operating rooms. Those visitors are from different organizations, such as participants of the Nursing Specialty Program and Program of Nursing Specialty in Perioperative Nursing of the Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, sports medicine students, Mahidol University, perioperative nurses from Rayong Hospital and Phra Chomklao Petchaburi Hospital, overseas medical teams from South Korea, Japan and the US. The Orthopaedic Surgery Unit has been participating in various activities of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, such as mobile surgery service at remote hospitals, preparation programs for patients and family prior to hip and knee replacement operations, Joints Health Club, Siriraj Orthopaedic Perioperative Nurse (SOON) Course in 2010 and 2012, the Nursing Symposium held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Orthopaedic Surgery Unit wishes to confirm our commitment to working with moving forward together with the for the best benefits of the patients. We will help each other to achieve international excellence while continuing Prince of Songkhla’s intention to make this organization as the medical institute of the kingdom.