title: Medical audit: the role of an orthopaedic preoperative clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the usefulness of an orthopaedic preoperative clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study of patients who attended the preoperative clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients who attended the clinic over a three-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orthopaedic Outpatient Department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve of the 30 patients had their operation postponed as a result of the visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The existence of a preoperative orthopaedic assessment clinic is justified. Use of such a clinic should lead to the cancellation of fewer operations due to the patient being unfit for surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Manchester.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Galasko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D018579:Patient Selection; D011300:Preoperative Care