“Over the last two decades the AOANJRR has enabled Australian orthopaedic surgeons and their patients access to data that has not only transformed and improved surgical outcomes, but has led to many thousands of Australians to experience a better quality of life,” Dr Martin said.
The AOANJRR has also launched a new initiative that will collect specific patient information about their replacement surgery.
“Due to the large number of patients undergoing joint replacement operations, the AOANJRR has implemented a fully electronic data system where individual patients complete two surveys that collect general health information from the patient (including age, weight, height) as well as pain thresholds and the impact pain has on activities performed prior to and following surgery.
“The collection of patient data will complement replacement device performance data and is initially being rolled out in 45 hospitals prior to full implementation across all Australian hospitals by 2022,” Dr Martin said.
As in previous years, hip, knee and shoulder devices that have higher than anticipated levels of revision have been identified.
“This year, 10 new prostheses – seven total conventional hip combinations, one acetabular prosthesis, and two total knee combinations – have been identified as having higher than anticipated rates of revision and have been forwarded to the Therapeutic Goods Administration for further review.
“This is particularly pleasing and confirms decisions made by the Federal Government a number of years ago to increase clinical evidence requirements before new joint replacement devices are approved – a decision made based on AOANJRR data.
“Since its inception in 1999, the AOANJRR has had a strong relationship with the Federal Government. Thanks to this relationship, Australia is at the forefront of identifying how best to achieve optimum results in orthopaedic surgery that contribute to restoring a pain-free, active and healthy lifestyle for hundreds of thousands of Australians, in turn saving many millions of dollars in health and welfare expenditure,” said Dr Martin.
The 20th Annual AOANJRR Annual Report can be downloaded at aoanjrr.sahmri.com/annual-reports-2019