Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), New York, reports on the creation of the Center for Musculoskeletal Outcomes and Patient Oriented Research to translate information collected from a vast patient population into studies that will guide experts in preventing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal disorders.

 

The Centeraims to incorporate rigorous research investigation into the delivery of orthopedic and rheumatology patient care and the outcomes of that care. This research will result in the publication of peer-reviewed health reports discussing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of bone, joint, muscle, and autoimmune disorders.

One of the initial activities of the Center’s researchers will be to lead the development of an International Consortium of Orthopedic Registries, as a result of a contract awarded by the FDA. Through HSS leadership, the international consortium will work toward creating a registry network to provide a worldwide view of orthopedic patient outcomes and to compare differences among treatment options.

Hospital for Special Surgery, along with Kaiser Permanente, is working with the FDA to plan the first meeting of the consortium for the spring of 2011. Scientists from more than a dozen US and international registries will be among the 40 attendees.

"This is the first international network of orthopedic device registries that will help us better understand the safety and effectiveness of orthopedic devices in a real-world setting," said project co-leader Danica Marinac-Dabic, MD, PhD, director of the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health’s Division of Epidemiology, in a statement.

Hospital for Special Surgery maintains more than 30 research registries for conditions ranging from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries to lupus to rheumatoid arthritis. The HSS total joint replacement registry, for example, contains data from more than 20,000 patients.

"HSS surgeons perform more knee replacements and hip surgeries than any other hospital in the world," said Surgeon-in-Chief Thomas P. Sculco, MD. "Through these registries, clinicians and researchers collect more than demographic and clinical information. They also gather patient reports about outcomes after surgery, such as satisfaction with treatment, quality of life, and return to activities."

"The Center will provide the resources and environment within which basic, clinical, translational, and health researchers can collaborate in identifying treatments, clinical pathways, and quality measures that can lead to significant improvements in musculoskeletal health," said Chief Scientific Officer Steven R. Goldring, MD.

Experts in biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy, comparative effectiveness, and quality research from Special Surgery’s Research Division will play key roles in the Center. These researchers have previously been awarded a Challenge Grant from the National Institutes of Health as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and funding through the Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERT) program of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

HSS scientists will also continue to expand their partnerships with researchers at other government, commercial, and academic institutions, such as the Department of Public Health at Weill Cornell Medical College.

[Source: Hospital for Special Surgery]