Abstract
BACKGROUND: Timely decision-making in complex arthroplasty cases such as prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and periprosthetic fractures is critical to optimizing patient outcomes. Traditional weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings often delay these decisions. This study evaluates the use of Siilo (Doctolib Siilo, Amsterdam, NLD), a secure medical messaging app, to facilitate expedited MDT discussions in acute arthroplasty admissions. METHODS: A retrospective audit was conducted on acute arthroplasty cases discussed via the Siilo platform over 12 months in 2024. Patient demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades, and types of diagnoses were recorded. Time from referral to decision via Siilo was compared to the institutional average wait time for conventional MDT meetings. The primary outcome was time saved in days. RESULTS: A total of 97 acute arthroplasty admissions were included in the study, with a median age of 72 years. The average time to decision via Siilo was 0.87 days, resulting in a mean time saving of 3.03 days per case. Most patients had ASA grades of 2 or 3, and the most common diagnoses included knee PJI, periprosthetic femoral fractures, and hip PJI. CONCLUSION: The Siilo messaging platform reduced time to MDT decision-making in acute arthroplasty cases, demonstrating a practical advantage in managing complex admissions. Secure messaging should be considered as a valuable adjunct to traditional MDT frameworks to enhance clinical efficiency and patient care quality.