Welcome to the AOANJRR

The Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) is an initiative of the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA). The AOANJRR was established in 1999 becoming fully national in mid 2002. The purpose of the AOANJRR is to improve and maintain the quality of care for individuals receiving joint replacement surgery. Information on hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle and spinal disc replacement is collected from all hospitals in Australia undertaking joint replacement surgery.

The Commonwealth of Australia has declared the AOANJRR a Federal Quality Assurance Activity under part VC of the Health Insurance Act, 1973.

The AOANJRR is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

Registry Personnel

Registry Clinical Director
Professor Paul Smith

Deputy Registry Clinical Directors
Associate Professor Peter Lewis
Professor Chris Vertullo
Adjunct Professor Michael McAuliffe

Assistant Deputy Registry Clinical Directors

TBC

Mr James Stoney

Dr David Gill (Upper Limb)

Associate Professor Chris Wall

 

Clinical Advisors (as required)
Professor Richard Page
Mr Peter Stavrou

Registry Executive Manager
Ms Kathy Hill

General Enquiries:
Please direct all enquiries to the Registry Executive Manager

E: admin@aoanjrr.org.au  
T: +61 8 8128 4280

News

Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry Releases 2024 Annual Report

25th Edition Marks Milestone in Tracking Joint Replacement Procedures in Australia

The Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) proudly announces the release of the 2024 Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Arthroplasty Annual Report. This comprehensive report marks the 25th edition, of the Registry’s work, reflecting on over two decades of crucial data collection and analysis that have advanced orthopaedic care across Australia.

Since 1999, the AOANJRR has recorded over 2.13 million joint replacement procedures, reflecting the Registry's pivotal role in tracking and improving surgical outcomes. In the 12 months leading up to December 31, 2023, 146,795 hip, knee, and shoulder replacements were performed—representing a significant 16% increase over the previous year. This surge includes a 9.1% increase in hip replacements, a 19.2% rise in knee replacements, and a 13.9% growth in shoulder replacements.

The 2024 Annual Report's special chapter on Arthroplasty Practice Variation explores regional differences in hip and knee arthroplasty across Australia. While demographics like age and BMI are consistent, socioeconomic factors such as IRSAD ratings vary. The chapter highlights trends like an increase in experienced surgeons, a shift toward ceramic/polyethylene prostheses, and growing use of robotic technologies. Regional disparities in replacement rates and prosthesis selection are also noted.

Additionally, the AOANJRR has identified several prostheses with higher-than-expected revision rates, including one partial hip prosthesis, one total conventional hip prosthesis, one total knee prosthesis, two total stemmed anatomic shoulder prostheses, and one total ankle prosthesis. These findings are critical for ongoing evaluations of prosthetic performance and patient care.

2024 Supplementary Reports:

In addition to the main report, the AOANJRR has released 14 supplementary reports that explore various aspects of arthroplasty in greater detail. These include:

  • Lay Summary – Hip, Knee & Shoulder Replacement
  • Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs): Hip, Knee & Shoulder Arthroplasty
  • Demographics of Hip, Knee & Shoulder Arthroplasty
  • Cement in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
  • Mortality of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
  • Revision of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
  • Metal/Metal Bearing Surface in Total Conventional Hip Arthroplasty
  • Prosthesis Types with No or Minimal Use
  • Demographics and Outcome of Elbow and Wrist Arthroplasty
  • Demographics and Outcome of Ankle Arthroplasty
  • Demographics of Spinal Disc Arthroplasty
  • Analysis of State and Territory Health Data
  • Partial Shoulder Arthroplasty
  • Comparative Prosthesis Performance

The AOANJRR remains steadfast in its mission to improve joint replacement outcomes by providing evidence-based data to surgeons, healthcare providers, and policymakers. The data and insights contained in this year's reports will further drive improvements in surgical techniques, prosthesis design, and overall patient care.

Access the Reports:

The 2024 Annual Report and the 14 supplementary reports are available for download on the AOANJRR website under the 'Publications' tab.