Research at the RNOH Implant Science Centre joins up clinical and engineering expertise to better understand the surgeon, implant and patient factors involved in early implant failures.

Our research helps understand how implants can function as well and as long as possible and make the most of the annual spend of £1Bn to the NHS for hip and knee replacement; £300M to the NHS on spine implant surgery, and $20Bn hip, knee and spine implant worldwide market.

Implant science research helps minimise the healthcare, patient and societal costs of redo/revision implant surgery which can cost over £10K per case (15K cases done each year in the UK) and sometimes reaches over £100K when high dependency care and 3D customised implants are used.

Our research impacts surgeons, patients, manufacturers, registries & regulators. We are generating evidence to help enhance the post-market surveillance of orthopaedic implants under the MHRA UKCA and European MDR.

Our case study was selected by UCL as one of the case studies put forward to the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment panel, which in turn graded the University at the highest 4* level. Read a summary of our contribution to REF2021 here.

Our key research focus is on:

1. The analysis of 3D printed implants. 

2. The analysis of magnetically controlled growing rods and nails.

3. The role of blood titanium testing as a biomarker for implant function.

2. The post-market surveillance of newly introduced implant designs.

The menu bar on the right has links to more information about this research.