Our Aims:
1. To provide evidence of expertise in the field of major joint arthroplasty.
2. To enable us to plot an individuals progress against a standard survival curve in order to ascertain how well they are doing.
3. To identify problems or benefits of each type of prosthesis.
 
 

Dear Patients,

The Oswestry Outcome Centre is an organisation dedicated to the the collection of clinical data and assessment of major planned operations. They will be assigned the task of assessing the outcome of your planned operation. Your surgeons is keen for us to collect information on the details of the operation, in order to provide information on how well the hips works.

I have developed this centre with the help of the Institute of Orthopaedics, a charity dedicated to improve the care of arthirtus through research and teaching young surgeons. The information related to the outcome of the BHR implant has been possible by a major effort from MMT, the Oswestry Outcome Centre, surgeons all around the world and most importantly, previously patients.

Previous patients have volunteered to enter the outcome study and fill in and return the Oswestry Score Questionnaires thus providing extremely valuable information for surgeon education and decision making.

While we very much want every patient to enter this ongoing study, we do point out that your participation is voluntary and you may of course decide, after discussion with your surgeon, not to enter. If you do undertake to help us, it is most important we can keep in touch with you on a yearly basis over the ten years following your hip replacement, and that you tell us of any difficulties or revisions your hip may have.

The information that follows is designed to help you understand the treatment you are about to receive. I hope you will find it useful.

Yours Sincerely,

James Richardson
Professor of Orthopaedics.

The Stages of our work with you:
Pre-op

Baseline Data is collected- The most important against which to measure progress or decline later

A score sheet is then sent out with a letter from the pre-op clinic

The score sheet is then collected by a clinic nurse and checked for ambiguity with the patient

The clinical examination section of the form is completed by the doctor

The completed form is then removed from notes and placed into a computer database.
 
Theatre Outcome
All hip and knee arthoplasty including 1st and second stage revisions.
The theatre forms are completed by surgeons in theatre with dictated operation notes.
The completed form is placed in box for collection.
 
Post-op Follow-up Clinic
1st follow-up typically 6-8 weeks after the operation.
2nd follow-up 6 months after the operation.
3rd follow-up 12 months after operation.
2 years for subsequent followups thereafter.
 
Hip/knee score sheets are given to patients on arrival at the clinic for completion whilst waiting to be seen.
Forms are checked for ambiguity by nursing staff.
Replaced with notes for clinical examination to be completed by Doctor.
All completed forms are then placed in box for collection.

The advantages of the prospective study are numerous:

  • The data is continuously updated.
  • Patient selection for surgery is possible.
  • Long term follow-up of large numbers of patients.
  • A comparison of different prostheses can be made.
  • Feedback for Surgeons.
  • A measure of 'quality'.
  • Data for publications/presentations.
  • Tools to help in the development of new techniques and prostheses.

Data Protection

All information given by you will be treated in confidence and will not be disclosed to any third party organisation without your permission. The information is held on the Outcome Centre's computer and is used only to facilitate research into more effective athoplastical treatments. We are registered and comply with the conditions of informational use as specified by the Data Protection Act 1998. Under the terms of this act you have the right to obtain a copy of the information the Outcome Centre holds about you without undue delay.