Volunteers needed to help improve research on periprosthetic femoral fracture

Patients and clinicians are invited to participate in a study to develop a ‘core outcome set’ for periprosthetic femoral fracture (PoPFF).

PoPFF is where, after a hip or knee replacement, the thigh bone breaks near the implant. This is a serious complication that causes pain, loss of mobility and independence and can result in death. Managing these fractures is difficult and can involve some technically complicated surgery.

Researchers want to find the best treatments for PoPFF, but studies measure recovery in different ways.

A core outcome set is a standardised set of outcomes that should be measured and reported, as a minimum, in all clinical trials in specific areas of health or care. They are developed with the help of key stakeholders (including patients) as this helps identify the most relevant outcomes.

PoPFF is under-researched and, at the moment, there’s no core outcome set for PoPFF. Both the British Hip Society and the British Association for Surgery of the Knee have highlighted that more research into PoPFF is needed.

If you’ve had PoPFF or have cared for someone with it, we need you

The project team are looking for adults who have had this injury and people who have cared for someone who has had it. Watch the video to find out more.

If you’re interested in taking part, contact the study team’s Chief Investigator Dr Alex Aquilina on Alex.Aquilina@bristol.ac.uk.

Calling clinicians and researchers with experience of PoPFF

The team are also inviting clinicians caring for patients with PoPFF and researchers who work in this area to take part in a Delphi survey and consensus process to develop the core outcome set.

If you would like to take part, you can read the professionals information leaflet (PDF) and sign up to take part.

Dr Alex Aquilina, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Trauma and Orthopaedics and Chief Investigator for the study, said:

“Periprosthetic femoral fracture is a serious injury that can have life-changing and life-threatening consequences. But it’s under-researched and it’s difficult to compare the studies that exist because they measure different things.

“We hope that, by developing this core outcome set, we can transform research and care for people experiencing this serious post-operative injury.”