Selection of patients for inpatient rehabilitation or direct home discharge following total joint replacement surgery: a comparison of health status and out-of-pocket expenditure of patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To analyse the differences in patient health outcomes and out-of-pocket costs following hip and knee joint replacement for osteoarthritis between patients who went home immediately after the acute care hospital stay and those who were admitted to inpatient rehabilitation care before going home.

Methods: One hundred and eighteen patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement in Sydney, Australia completed cost diaries, SF-36 and WOMAC Index, pre-operatively and for one year post-operatively.

Results: The health status of all groups improved significantly from before surgery to 12 months post-surgery.

Operation Sumatra Assist: surgery for survivors of the tsunami disaster in Indonesia.

The tsunami of 26 December 2004 was one of the deadliest natural disasters recorded, with the Indonesian province of Aceh being the most devastated region. As part of the Australian Government's response to the disaster, the Australian Defence Force deployed personnel from the Sydney-based 1st Health Support Battalion to Banda Aceh, the capital of the province. This unit joined with medical personnel from the New Zealand Defence Force to form the ANZAC field hospital.