[Quality control of prosthetic replacements of knee, ankle, toe, shoulder, elbow and finger joints in Norway 1994. A report after the first year of registration of joint prostheses in the national registry].

Total hip replacements have been recorded in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register since 1987, and recording of the other joint arthroplasties was started in January 1994. After 12 months 1,589 primary arthroplasties had been registered; these referred to 962 knees, 11 ankles, 76 toes, 113 shoulders, 69 elbows, 12 wrists, 335 fingers and 11 carpometacarpal 1 joints. Median age of the patients was 70 years. 80% were women. Rheumatoid arthritis was the predominant reason for joint replacement, except in the case of the knees where the dominant cause was osteoarthrosis (71%) and of shoulders, 28% of which were replaced because of fractures. Cement was used in 83% of the primary arthroplasties in knee, ankle, shoulder, and elbow joints. 74% of the cement types used contained antibiotics. 9% were uncemented and 8% hybrids. 97% were given systemic antibiotic prophylaxis, most commonly first generation cephalosporins. 114 reoperations were reported. The reason was aseptic loosening in 56%, and infection in 15%. The cooperation with Norwegian orthopaedic surgeons is good. The Register thus provides a reliable picture of implants of Norway, and a good basis for future follow-up studies.