Information for Patients and General Public about NJRI
Hip, knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle joint replacements are common and highly successful operations that bring many patients improved mobility and relief from pain.Whether you are a patient who is going to be undergoing surgery in the coming weeks, or a friend or relative of a patient, this area of our site should help to give you information about what to expect, why the work of the NJRI is so valuable and how you can help.
A number of people may at some time in the future need another operation on the same joint. This may occur for a variety of reasons, most commonly because the joint implant has worn out. There are many different types of hip, knee and ankle implants, many of which do not have data on their long-term effectiveness.To further improve the success of this surgery, we have set up the National Joint Registry India (NJRI) in order to monitor the performance of joint implants.
What is NJRI?
The outcomes of joint replacement are variable. There are many factors known to influence the outcome of joint replacements. Some of these factors are age, gender and diagnosis of patients, the type of prosthesis and the surgical techniques used. Also, there is rapid rate of change in medical technology. There is continual development and use of new types of prostheses and surgical techniques, the results for many of which remain uncertain.
The need to establish a Registry was based on the documented success of a number of arthroplasty registries in other countries. The purpose of the Registry is to define, improve and maintain the quality of care of individuals receiving joint replacement surgery. It achieves this by collecting a defined minimum data set that enables outcomes to be determined on the basis of patient characteristics, prosthesis type and features, method of prosthesis fixation and surgical technique used. The principal measure of outcome is revision surgery. It is an unambiguous measure of the need for further intervention. Combined with a careful analysis of the timing and reasons for revision this can be used as an accurate measure of the success or otherwise of a procedure. The ability to identify factors important in achieving successful outcomes had resulted in both improved standards and significant cost savings.
The Registry also monitors mortality rates. This information is then used to inform surgeons, other health care professionals, governments, orthopaedic companies and the community.
The National Joint Registry India (NJRI) was set up to collect information on all hip, knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle replacement operations and to monitor the performance of replacement joints (implants). The National Joint Registry (NJRI) was established in 2011.
Its purpose is to define, improve and maintain the quality of care of individuals receiving hip, knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle joint replacement surgery across India in government and the independent healthcare sector.
How will the NJRI benefit me?
The NJRI will be used to bring direct benefits to patients by:
1. Improving patient awareness of the outcomes of hip, knee and ankle replacements
2. Finding out how long the different joint replacements last
3. Helping to identify individual patients who have received an implant if there is a need for urgent clinical review.
The NJR will also be used to bring additional long-term benefits by:
1. Providing feedback to orthopedic surgeons and teams to help maintain high clinical standards
2. Promoting open publication of the performance of implants
3. Providing feedback on implant performance to regulatory authorities
4. Providing feedback to suppliers about the performance of their implants
5. Monitoring and comparing the performance of hospitals.
What is Joint Replacements
Artificial implants, or prostheses, are used to replace diseased or damaged bone around joints so that patients are able to enjoy, to a degree, normal movement once again. The implants mimic bone shape and can be made of metal, high density polyethylene or ceramic.
Hip, knee and ankle joints can all be replaced with artificial implants, although hip and knee replacements procedures are by far the commonest. Implants tend to last up to 15 years. Your surgeon will know which implants are best suited to you.
The main reason patients undergo joint replacement surgery is because a joint has become too painful or too difficult to use during daily activities. Joint replacements are one of the most commonly performed and most successful operations in the UK. As with all surgery, there are some risks that you should discuss with your surgeon. During the operation the problem joint is exposed, and the joint surface and some bone tissue is removed from the bone ends. The prosthesis is then fixed to the bone ends. After surgery you will need to remain in hospital for a few days, and then undergo several weeks of rehabilitation. This will improve your strength and endurance, making it easier and less painful to move around. The degree to which movement improves depends on the individual, the deterioration of the joint before surgery and how strong the muscles surrounding your joints are.
What are the current Joint replacement Statistics
Hip replacements have been performed in the world since the 1960s. Knee and ankle replacements have been performed since the 1970s. The implants and techniques have developed rapidly since then.
In India there are approximately 160,000 total hip and knee replacement procedures performed each year.
How will your data be used:
The information that could be used to identify you will be removed before any analysis takes place.