Article
Why Do We Need a National Joint Replacement Registry in the United States?
Am J Orthop. 2009 October;38(10):500-503
Author and Disclosure Information
Fabian von Knoch, MD, and Henrik Malchau, MD, PhD
Dr. von Knoch is Arthroplasty Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Malchau is Co-Director, Harris Orthopaedic Biomaterial and Biomechanical Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
The continually increasing number of total hip arthroplasties (THAs) being performed, in conjunction with the rapid growth in new surgical techniques and implants related to THA, warrants ongoing and objective monitoring of results. National joint replacement registries have become powerful surveillance systems for monitoring contemporary THAs and improving outcomes. Despite the compelling evidence of their benefits, such a registry has yet to be established in the United States. In this article, we provide a rationale for implementing a national joint replacement registry in the United States.