Dislocation rates after total hip arthroplasty in a community setting have not been well documented. We used a community based joint registry to evaluate hip dislocations that occurred within 1 year after total hip arthroplasty. We evaluated patient, implant, and technical factors associated with dislocation, including primary versus revision surgery, femoral head size (28 mm versus > or = 32 mm), operative time, surgeon volume, surgical approach, age, gender, diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and body mass index (BMI). There were 1693 primary total hip arthroplasties and 277 revision procedures performed from 2001-2003. The overall dislocation rate was 1.7% for primary total hip arthroplasties and 5.1% for revision procedures. Patients with ASA scores of 3 or 4 had a 2.3-fold dislocation increase compared with patients with scores of 1 or 2. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had an increased risk of dislocation. The dislocation rates for primary total hip arthroplasty were 2% for 28 mm heads and 0.7% for heads > or = 32 mm. The surgeon's patient volume, surgical approach, operative time, and body mass index had no effect on dislocation.

The results support the Gustilo grading system of open fractures as a significant prognostic indicator for infectious complication. We continue to support the emergent treatment of open tibia fractures.

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Background A Total Joint Replacement Registry was developed in a large community-based practice to track implant utilization, monitor revisions and complications, identify patients during recalls and advisories, and provide feedback on clinical practices. Questions/purposes We describe the development, implementation, and integration of this Total Joint Replacement Registry, highlighting critical steps in aligning information technology and operations. Methods The primary Total Joint Replacement Registry data source consists of standardized electronic health record forms developed by consensus. The Total Joint Replacement Registry forms are integrated into the clinical workflow (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) and produce a standardized progress note for electronic health record documentation. Secondary data are extracted from other electronic data sources using standard terminologies (ie, ICD-9 codes) to supplement the Total Joint Replacement Registry forms. Electronic screening algorithms are applied to identify complications, in combination with chart review validation and quality control mechanisms. Results Three hundred fifty surgeons voluntarily contribute to the registry with 90% participation. The registry has been used for implant recalls and advisories, contract decision making, and identification of patients at risk for revisions (eg, younger patients having total knee arthroplasty). Tracking of overall survival of implants influenced clinical practice, with feedback resulting in the reduction of the number of unicompartmental and uncemented knee arthroplasties performed, usage of femoral head sizes\28 mm, and the number of minimally invasive surgical procedures performed. Conclusions The Total Joint Replacement Registry has effectively aligned operations with information technology and leveraged that to enhance our ability to respond to recalls and advisories as well as improve quality of care, cost-effectiveness, and create research opportunities.

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Background and purpose There are limited population-based data on utilization, outcomes, and trends in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to examine TKA utilization and short-term outcomes in a pre-paid health maintenance organization (HMO), and to determine whether rates and revision burden changed over time. We also studied whether this population is representative of the general population in California and in the United States.Methods Using hospital utilization and membership databases from 1995 through 2004, we calculated incidence rates (IRs) of primary and revision TKA for every 10,000 health plan members. The demographics of the HMO population were compared to published census data from California and the United States.Results

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When evaluating patient, implant, and surgical factors at the time of revision total hip arthroplasty, age, surgeon experience, implant fixation, and bearing surfaces had significant impacts on the risk of re-revision.