Predicting Patient Outcomes after Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are standard surgical procedures in Switzerland. The Swiss National Joint Registry (SIRIS) captures data on 98 % of these surgeries annually — approximately 22,000 THAs and 18,000 TKAs per year. Clinical prediction and effective health communication of surgical outcomes is important for decision-making, encompassing perspectives from patients, surgeons, hospitals, and the healthcare system. While clinical prediction models are proliferating, the optimal practices for communicating their results to relevant knowledge users remain unclear.

This SIRIS-PRC project presents a unique opportunity to leverage clinical prediction models for improved decision-making in total joint arthroplasty. These models may offer valuable insights into the risks and patient outcomes of THA and TKA, enhancing preoperative shared decision-making. By incorporating end-user perspectives and facilitating effective health communication of these decision support tools, our project aims to foster transparency, build trust, and empower individuals to actively engage in their healthcare decisions.

The overarching aim of our project is to advance understanding of prediction modeling and health communication concerning patientreported outcomes and revision surgery after THA and TKA, using population-based SIRIS data and qualitative approaches.