Introduction of joint arthroplasty register in Lithuania. First year results

Abstract

Background: The joint arthroplasty register including the registration of total knee and total hip replacements on National level was introduced on January of 2011. Previously no data regarding the joint replacement surgery was collected in Lithuania. Materials and methods: The prosthetic implantation data was collected via internet database and was based on minimal data set from EAR. All the orthopedic surgeons in participating hospitals were filling the electronic registration form. All the data were collected and analyzed in Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. The registration of the implantation data is based on volunteer participation in the project and is not obligated by law. The registration results of one year were compared to data from State Patients Fund, regarding the completeness of the register. The revision rates were estimated. Results: There are 21 hospitals in Lithuania performing total joint replacement surgery. First year total completeness of the registration was 84.2%. There were 3490 primary total hip replacement and 2090 total knee replacement procedures registered. Besides that 265 hip revisions and 101 knee revision were recorded. The completeness of revisions registration was 96%. The revision burden for hip replacement was 7.6%, for the knee replacement 4,8% respectively. 48% of all prosthetic hip joint revisions were performed due to aseptic loosening of cup or stem, and 18% of all revisions were performed due recurrent dislocation. There were 14% of hip joint revisions performed for acute of chronic infections. While investigating the proportions of reasons for revision after total knee replacement we found that 40% of all revision was performed due to infection and 20% for loosening of tibial component. Other reason for revisions proportionally had that 10% out of all revision procedures. [...].