The NHS- Implant Analysis Service is committed to supporting education and training and were proud to sponsor and attend the annual BASK conference this year. A well-attended and engaging event with a range of expert speakers, this conference was a great opportunity to discuss our new national service with surgeons who specialise in revision knee arthroplasty.

With over 200 delegates in attendance we were kept very busy on our NHS IAS stand, discussing the benefits of independent implant analysis and reporting for patient safety.

Example reports, along with brochures and flyers, were available to all delegates and we were delighted at the level of interest the service received. It was heartening to see so many specialist clinicians wanting to learn more about the devices they routinely use and exploring how they could improve patient safety by sending revised devices for independent physical analysis

From the podium, explant analysis was discussed as part of the proceedings. Mr Keith Tucker (ODEP & Beyond Compliance) and Mr Tim Wilton (NJR) discussed the benefits and the challenges of using the data from products which may not be performing as well as anticipated. They also discussed that whilst there may be perceived issues around some products, manufacturers may have huge financial implications if they simply stop or hold off on marketing them while an investigation into data is undertaken. Mr Tucker went on to say , “I think that we haven’t been sending, as orthopaedic surgeons, anything like the right number of explants [for physical analysis] because that’s a good way of starting the process…” With a clear need for the Implant Analysis Service being discussed by leaders at the conference, and with September’s BOA conference on the horizon, we look forward to continuing this vital conversation with surgeons across the UK and sharing our independent solution to the problem as laid out by Mr Tucker, Mr Wilton and other experts within the sector.