Optimising Hand Trauma Management in a Tertiary National Health Service (NHS) Plastic Surgery Department: A Quality Improvement Initiative Aligned With the United Kingdom’s Prevalence Data and British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) Guidelines

Despite notable progress in overall compliance, persistent delays in the management of complex injuries such as open and closed fractures highlight ongoing systemic bottlenecks within the hand trauma pathway. Strategic interventions, derived from departmental Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) discussions, are essential to further enhance patient outcomes and mitigate the substantial functional and economic burden of hand trauma in the UK, estimated at approximately £287 million annually. Key recommendations include increasing dedicated trauma list capacity, enhancing Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) and 52 Pre-Op (daily plastics trauma clinic) capabilities, implementing targeted education for referring units, and establishing regular rolling audits with comprehensive documentation.