274 The Accuracy of Clinical Coding of Developmental Dysplasia of The Hip (DDH) Operations

Abstract

Abstract Aim: To assess the accuracy of clinical coding of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) operations Method 106 children underwent surgery for DDH at our turst from 1997 to 2018. Our coding department was sent a list of patients and operation dates and asked to tabulate data on what each operation had been coded as. We compared what each operation was coded as with the procedure actually performed (as per operation notes, clinic letters and intra-operative fluoroscopy images). Results Of the 106 patients included in our study, 128 operations were performed. 36 out of 128 (28%) of operations were coded incorrectly. The commonest error was that closed reduction was missed from coding (n = 13). Seven patients did not have their femoral osteotomy coded. Seven patients had a closed reduction incorrectly labelled as an open reduction. Four patients had pelvic osteotomies that were not coded. Two patients had open reductions that were not coded. Conclusions We have shown that an unacceptably high number of DDH operations are being coded for incorrectly. This has clear cost implications for the trust. This study questions the use of retrospective coding data in audit and research and suggests inaccuracy when considering the surgical outcomes of developmental dysplasia of the hip.