Media Release – Hip, knee and shoulder replacements at all-time high

The AOANJRR 2017 Annual Report sheds new light on the success of these popular surgical procedures using data collected from 310 hospitals throughout the country. AOA President Ian Incoll said due to the significant advances in surgical procedures and prosthesis development has meant most patients over 65 can expect their hip or knee replacement to last a lifetime.

“The 15-year performance data underlines the fact that for many decades hip and knee replacement surgery has consistently been two of the most popular and successful surgeries performed in Australia,” said Dr Incoll.

The findings are presented in light of more recent data that sees the lowest proportions of revision surgery – that is corrective surgery on already replaced joints – ever recorded over a 12-month period.

The current revision burden for hip and knee replacement is now at its lowest level since the AOANJRR began data collection. To the 12 months to December 2016 the proportion of revision hip procedures reported to the AOANJRR has declined by 31% since 2003 while revised knee procedures have reduced by 16% since 2004.

Equally significant is the decline in recent years of the number of prostheses being identified as having higher than expected rates of revision. This peaked at 18 in 2011 and many of those devices were relatively newly introduced into the market. This year there were only six prostheses that were identified with higher than anticipated rates of revision.

For the first time this year the AOANJRR Annual Report outlines both individual surgeon and hospital variations and the relationship to prosthesis choice.

“There are many reasons why the rate of revision varies between surgeons and hospitals. The AOANJRR findings reveal that the critical determining factor for both surgeons and hospitals comes down to the type of prosthesis used in replacement surgery.

“An important AOANJRR function is to provide individual feedback to each surgeon. During the last year, the Registry has worked hard to improve this information by providing more detailed data to enable surgeons to more comprehensively assess their own individual performance.”

“Through quality analysis and reporting of accurate, validated data on almost every joint replacement procedure undertaken in Australia, the Registry has been able to provide information to surgeons and their patients that has consistently reduced the risk of revision surgery over many years,” said Dr Incoll.

To celebrate the continued success of joint replacement surgery in Australia which is now in its 81st year the AOA Australian Orthopaedic Association’s travelling exhibition – The Wonder of Movement – continues across the country to showcase the breadth of orthopaedic procedures being performed in Australian hospitals every day. The exhibition includes information on youth sports injury prevention, the evolution of joint replacement, developments in the treatment of fractures and innovations in orthopaedic surgery including the use of 3D printing, use of robotics and customised implants during surgery.

“The specialty of orthopaedics keeps our children in the game, puts the bounce back in the knees and hips of our elderly and keeps all of Australia moving with more than 1.2 million hip and knee joint replacement procedures undertaken throughout Australia’s hospital network since 1999.” Dr Incoll said.