Considering safe patient pathways

Abstract

This chapter discusses consideration of safe patient pathways. It includes discussion on skin necrosis, safe raising of fasciocutaneous flaps around the joints, tips and tricks to avoid iatrogenic skin necrosis, prosthetic joint infection negative-pressure dressings to reduce risk, and pathways for skin necrosis. The aim is to improve the safety and viability of the access incisions with the intention of enhancing primary healing of those incisions. This advice on tissue handling must be in addition to the holistic assessment of the patient as a ‘host’ for the arthroplasty implant.