Arthroplasty

Surgical remodelling of a diseased joint. To prevent the ends of the bones fusing after the operation, a large gap may be created between them (gap or excision arthroplasty), a barrier of artificial material may be inserted (interposition arthroplasty), or one or both of the bone ends may be replaced by a prosthesis of metal or plastic (replacement arthroplasty). This operation may replace both joint surfaces (total arthroplasty) or only one (hemiarthropalsty).

Clinical Governance

The most widely used definition of clinical governance is the following: ‘A framework through which NHS organisations are accountable for continually improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish.' (Scally and Donaldson, 1998).
Within the context of the arthroplasty project, this means using the arthroplasty data to hold NHS organisations and orthopaedic surgeons accountable for the quality of care that they provide for arthroplasty patients, and to continually improve the quality of that care.

Complication

Disease or condition arising during the course of or as a consequence of another disease.

Complication Rate

Number of given complications that occur within a particular time period.

Dislocation

The displacement of bones from their normal position of meeting at a joint, such that there is complete loss of contact of the joint surfaces.

General Register Office for Scotland (GRO) death records

A record of all the deaths occurring in Scotland is held by the General Register Office for Scotland.

Orthopaedics

The science or practice of correcting deformities caused by disease of or damage to the bones and joints of the skeleton.

Prosthesis

Any artificial device that is attached to the body as an aid, including joint implants.

Revision surgery

When an artificial joint fails, a second operation is required to replace the failing joint. This procedure is called a revision.

SMR01

PHS collects information on a wide range of different topics in what are known as national data schemes, which in turn are brought together in what is known as the national database.
There are over fifty of these schemes in operation, which are used to collect information on topics ranging from hospital admissions, cancer registrations, patients on waiting lists through to childhood immunisation and earnings paid to NHSScotland staff.
Patient data is collected at an individual level and includes the Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR) schemes. SMR01 collects patient based data on inpatient and day case episodes in general and acute wards.