Publish date: 9 May 2024
Nationwide study launched to ensure best outcomes for joint replacement patients
An NHS research team is seeking thousands of people who are to undergo joint replacements for a major national study to improve patient experience and outcomes.
Hip and knee replacements are two of the most common operations carried out by the NHS, with tens of thousands undergoing the procedures each year.
Most patients are very satisfied after receiving a hip or knee replacement, however, there are cases where the operation is not as effective.
That’s why surgeons and researchers at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust launched the UK-wide ARC (Arthroplasty Research Cohort) Study to investigate how different lifestyle and health factors may affect the outcomes of both operations. The aim is to identify those patients who may be more likely to have a worse outcome.
Patients from all parts of the UK and from all walks of life are being asked to volunteer via a website and provide some baseline information about their lifestyle, health and their joint problems before their operation using an online questionnaire. The online nature of this study, as opposed to traditional recruitment of patients undergoing treatment at specific hospitals, should help deliver a varied pool of respondents.
They will then be contacted soon after the operation, and then at four months, eight months, one year and two years later to see how well the operation has worked and if they have had any problems or complications.
The aim is to recruit at least 5,000 people over a period of five years and the invaluable data gathered from this will help to ensure that patients with joint problems can be given the best treatment possible. In addition, it will help direct further research to make these operations even more successful.
Will Fishley, an orthopaedic speciality registrar currently at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who is the principal investigator, said: “Hip and knee replacements are a common and generally very successful operation which in many cases help people regain mobility, independence or simply enhance their quality of life.
“However, there are patients for whom the procedure is not as successful, due to a range of factors. An individual’s health and lifestyle circumstances can play a major role in this, which is why we are encouraging anyone planning to have a hip and knee replacement to sign up for this research.
“If you take part, you may be invited to participate in other trials testing lifestyle changes or treatments, but at the very least, you really will be helping us to help others by ensuring we fully understand what makes a difference to patient outcomes.”
Any UK residents aged 18 and over, who have been added to a waiting list for a hip or knee replacement and who have not had a replacement on the joint in question before are eligible.
The study is being overseen by Professor Mike Reed, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Northumbria Healthcare, who said: “This is an innovative study which seeks to use modern technology to recruit patients from across the country and gain a real understanding into patient experiences and outcomes after hip and knee replacements. It builds on research which took place during Covid-19, that managed to collect a significant amount of data relatively quickly and easily so that progress could be made.
“However, at its heart, this study remains the same as other medical research; we want to improve the care that patients receive.”
Alongside the online recruitment, traditional recruitment of patients in hospitals is also taking place. One of the trusts joining the study is South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
For more information or to sign up for the study, visit https:/
Media contact
Ben O’Connell, external communications manager, Northumbria Healthcare
Benjamin.O'Connell@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk or