Objective: To summarize the experience of internet-based online database of orthopedic failure surgery.
Methods: Based on the OrthoChina project, a sub-database for orthopedic failure surgery was established, open to the orthopedic surgeons for viewing, uploading, and sharing the experience. All cases were uploaded by the orthopedic surgeon users registering in the OrthoChina project from 25 August 2006 to 31 December 2007 were summarized.
Results: 102 failure surgery cases had been uploaded in the database, in which 87 were caused by internal instrumentation, 5 by external fixation, 7 by conservative treatment, and 3 by hip arthroplasty. Sixty-seven cases involved the poor performance of the orthopedic surgeons, 4 involved the patients related, and the causes of the other 31 cases remained unknown. Six failure cases occurred in class 1 hospitals, 76 cases in class 2 hospitals, and 20 in class 3 hospitals.
Conclusion: Internet based online database for orthopedic failure surgery helps collect the failed orthopedic treatment from different surgeons and different hospitals. Sharing such experience helps the orthopedic surgeons avoid such therapeutic errors and improve their work. Qualified training and certification are necessary for the application of new techniques and implants.