A welcome from our NJR patient representatives

Welcome to the patient section of the NJR website. As patients ourselves, we know how important it is to understand the treatment and options recommended for us as we prepare for surgery. Replacing a worn-out, damaged joint should bring relief from pain and improve mobility. Joint replacement is a highly successful operation, and the good news is the majority of patients report they are much better after their surgery and look forward to a better quality of life.

The National Joint Registry (NJR) has been gathering information since 2003 about joint operations carried out – and now has around 4.5 million patient records! You can find out more about our 4 millionth procedure here. The primary aim of collecting and studying this information is to improve patient safety, experiences and outcomes. Having clear evidence about the best surgical techniques and the best-performing implants for different patient case types is really valuable for guiding your surgeon and medical team in deciding what are the best options for you. Our bodies come in all shapes, sizes and ages and we may also have other health problems which will need to be considered before surgery. The more a patient can understand about what will be involved in joint replacement surgery the better prepared and more confident they will be.

The NJR has lots of useful information on this website and through the links you can find in our website footer to learn about treatment and replacement implant– and that it will enable patients to plan questions for your surgeon and healthcare team.

If you are considering having joint replacement surgery, it might also be useful to talk things over with family members, carers or friends, who may be supporting you at this time. You will want to build a clear picture of what your joint surgery will involve and what assistance you will need. Finding out as much as you can will give you time to think and help you make informed choices.

Shared decision-making addresses the many elements of information gathering that will lead to an increased knowledge that equips patients to share in some of the decisions around their treatment – from your surgeon’s advice, discussions with your family and friends, through to reading information from other sources to gain greater understanding. You can find ideas on information sources for thinking through your choices here.

There is a lot of additional information and support available for you. Some of the organisations that, offer this are listed here, some of whom offer further advice on looking after yourself, both before and after surgery.