The United Kingdom and Ireland Trauma & Orthopaedic eLogbook--an evidence base for enhancing training.

The United Kingdom and Ireland Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) eLogbook was originally conceived over ten years ago in order to provide individual surgeon support and allow national analysis of surgical training experience. Since 2003 every trainee in T&O has been required to submit data recording their operative experience throughout the six years of higher specialist training. We describe how orthopaedic surgeons are using the evidence from the eLogbook to improve training, set operative standards and support consultant (post-specialist registration) revalidation.

Deprivation and outcome of total knee replacement.

Deprivation correlates with poor health and psychosocial variables can affect the symptoms of knee arthritis. Our aim was to determine the effect of deprivation on the level of knee function and health-related quality of life at the time of arthroplasty and 12 months after total knee replacement. From our database of over 2500 knee replacements, we analysed both clinical and quality of life outcome measures. We analysed the relationship between deprivation (by Townsend score), knee function (Knee Society Score) and health-related quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile) before total knee replacement (TKR) and at 12 months post-operation. There was no significant correlation between Townsend score, Knee Society Score and Nottingham Health Profile preoperatively or at 12 months after knee replacement, thus showing that there was no association between deprivation and the severity of knee arthritis at the time of joint replacement nor was there a relationship between deprivation and the short-term outcome from total knee replacement.