title: Trends in joint arthroplasty litigation over five years: the British experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing numbers of joint arthroplasty are performed in Britain. While associated complications are well documented, it is not known which of those initiate malpractice claims.
  
  
  METHODS
  A five-year period was assessed for trends to highlight areas for further improvement in patient information and surgical management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The National Health Service paid out almost £14 million for 598 claims. Forty per cent of this was for legal costs. The number of claims increased over time while the rate of successful claims decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A failure to consent adequately and to adhere to policies and standard practice can result in a successful malpractice claim. Protecting patients intraoperatively and maintaining high technical expertise while implementing policies and obtaining informed consent decreases the litigation burden.
authors.affiliation: Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton, UK. aqeelbhutta@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bhutta
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D035881:Compensation and Redress; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008318:Malpractice / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D006113:United Kingdom