What is the BOFAS Registry?

This page is for clinicians interested in the BOFAS Registry. If you are a patient looking for information on the registry, please visit this page.

The BOFAS Registry is a secure online database hosted by Amplitude. It is designed for online, electronic input of PROMS & clinical data.

The outcome data covers:

  • EQ5D
  • MOXFQ
  • VAS
  • Complication
  • Achilles Tendon Rupture & Tendinopathy Scores
  • OMAS

 

How much does it cost?

Use of the database is free, funded by BOFAS, for BOFAS members.

 

What staff will I need?

A secretary and a nurse / physio / clinician to manage data flow

 

How do I set it up? 

See the Getting Started guide.

 

What conditions/procedures do I need to collect data for?

Multiple pathways exist:

  • Generic Foot & Ankle pathway (all other Foot & Ankle procedures)
  • First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis
  • Ankle Arthrodesis
  • Ankle (Primary Arthroplasty) - TAR
  • Ankle (Revision Arthroplasty) - TAR
  • Trauma - Achilles Rupture

The Generic Foot & Ankle pathway allows customisable data collection as does the Achilles Rupture Pathway.

The other pathways use pre-specified PROMS to ensure consistency & allow comparison of outcomes.

 

How do I use it?

The system is designed in PROMs fashion, ideally for patients to answer the questions electronically, either in clinic onto a departmental tablet / PC, or by email.

In practice, surgeon, nurse or physio collection on paper is commonly required.
(see section on data collection for different methods piloting in vanguard centres)

Data collection points include: 

  • Consent for inclusion
  • Preop
  • 6 months post op
  • 12 months post op

 

Is my Trust obliged to provide funding for the staff / activity?

No, but surgeon-level outcome measures are becoming a requirement to practice, a directive coming from high Government.
Pressure on Trusts to provide funding is likely to be leveraged via Care Commissioning Groups.

 

Where will my data be kept?

Amplitude’s outsourced, secure, certified servers (see information in IG Manager’s downloads).

Data safety is assured, and certification and relevant materials to satisfy both users and Information Governance Managers and Caldicott Guardians is contained in the IG repository section.

 

What will my data be used for?

  • Revalidation and appraisal.
  • For you to monitor your outcomes in both absolute and comparative terms
  • To generate NJR-type " funnel plots” for publication.
    This is why BOFAS has chosen to pre-empt requirements and develop a compliant system which keeps control of data and its quality with its surgeons. BOFAS, the BOA and the BOA umbrella committee designed to bring together all the orthopaedic registries (Quality Outcomes Committee; QOC) are working to develop a sensitive, constructive protocol for discussion with surgeons outcome data outside the norm.
  • For audit
  • When data are used for research, it will not be in an identifiable form

 

Who will have access to the data?

At first, just you, BOFAS and Amplitude.

Once you have approved the data, anyone logging onto the BOFAS publishing site, as is the case now with the NJR.

Manufacturers of surgical implants are also required, by the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), to monitor their devices and submit reports.  We envisage that the BOFAS registry will assist in this surveillance process by providing anonymised data to manufacturers, in return for payments needed to help run the Registry.  This provides added protection for patients since, should data reveal an issue with an implant or device subsequently reported to the MHRA, as holders of patients’ identifiable data BOFAS would be able to assist in alerting the individual patients affected.  This is in line with Principles 4 and 7 of the Caldicott guidelines.