The Musculoskeletal Audit

The MSk Audit

The Musculoskeletal (MSk) Audit began in April 2009 and audits high volume orthopaedic pathways across Scotland in relation to best practise and clinical evidence. This complements the work of NHS boards by identifying rate-limiting steps for orthopaedic treatment and supporting the quality improvement cycle.

The audit is managed by Information Services Division (ISD) who work closely with the Scottish Government's Directorate of Health Workforce and Performance to ensure the audit supports the national strategy set out by the Scottish Orthopaedic Service Development Group (SOSDG). The MSk Audit measures key indicators along a variety of orthopaedic pathways, highlighting national variations in clinical practice that affect patient care. By working in collaboration with senior clinicians, reports are produced which detail audit findings and encourage hospitals to use the results to implement improvement measures. The work supports the achievement of NHS Scotland's 2020 Framework for Quality, Efficiency and Value.

The current portfolio of work includes:

  • Scottish Hip Fracture Audit; Supporting hospitals in achieving Scottish Standards of Care for Hip Fracture Patients.
  • Enhanced Recovery after Surgery ( ERAS) - Optimising patient recovery after joint replacement ( Hip and Knee).
  • Non operative Fracture Pathway Redesign - Patients who sustain a non operative fracture only return to an outpatient clinic if there is an identified clinical need.

    • Scottish Hip Fracture Audit Report 2019

    Hip Fracture Care Pathway Report 2019
    Published 20 Aug 2019