Recent News

by Dr Roger Brighton M.B., B.S., F.R.A.C.S.(Orth.)

Lakeview Private has for the last six months been part of a Pilot project being run by the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR).

The Registry is a world leader in data collection around joint replacement surgery designed to inform surgeons about the relative performance of different implants with a view to constant surveillance and improvement of various procedures.

The Registry already collects data on the durability of implants by documenting all primary operations with an operation specific code and then tracks future revision surgeries wherever and whenever they occur, giving valuable information on device survival.

“The Registry captures 98% of joint surgeries throughout the country so produces reliable data on implant performance.”

“Our Registry already has an enviable international reputation,” said Dr Roger Brighton, one of Lakeview’s group of highly experienced joint replacement surgeons. “It captures 98% of joint surgeries throughout the country so produces reliable data on implant performance. What this new project aims to do is document the improvement in patients’ health after Joint Replacements by having patients themselves complete pre- and post-operation questionnaires called Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). These questionnaires create a score that can be matched with the operation code already collected allowing comparison of the clinical performance of implants.”

All patients having a Joint Replacement at Lakeview Private are given information about the project and asked to consent to having their data collected anonymously and linked to their operation code for entry to a central database at the AOANJRR. With the help of our efficient Pre-admission Nurses and a dedicated iPad, collection of this data has been proceeding seamlessly helping our Hospital participate in this important project.

“It is only by collecting data from a large number of surgeries that
reliable answers to some difficult clinical questions can be generated.”

In 2019, Lakeview Private will also participate in a second AOANJRR project to collect data on the efficiency of Low Molecular Weight Heparin (Clexane) versus Aspirin for prophylaxis of Deep Venous Prophylaxis (DVT). “This is another important initiative that our group is proud to be contributing to, along with fifty other hospitals across the country”, said Dr Brighton. “It is only by collecting data from a large number of surgeries that reliable answers to some difficult clinical questions can be generated. With our Unit now doing very significant numbers, but still small enough to control data collection, we are ideally placed to be part of the project.”