Joint replacements, such as new hips, knees, or shoulders, can greatly improve quality of life. To make these operations safer and more effective, orthopaedic surgeons collect information in large databases called registries. This thesis used data from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI) to explore important questions about patient care. This thesis showed that a special type of hip implant called the “short-stem” works as well as standard hip implants. These implants may save more bone, which can be useful if another surgery is needed later. The thesis also showed that joint infections are underreported in patient registries, but when they occur, the risk of death and the need for another hip or knee replacement are relatively high. In addition, it was found that nearly 800,000 people in the Netherlands live with a joint replacement, and most patients recover well after shoulder replacement surgery.
Mirthe van Veghel holds degrees in Nutrition & Dietetics (BSc) and Health Sciences (MSc). In 2021, she started as a junior researcher at the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI), after which she began her PhD research in 2022 at the Radboud university medical center. Her research focused on various aspects of registry studies using hip, knee, and shoulder data from the LROI.