[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49786-49787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21216]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Consensus Development Conference on Total Knee Replacement

    Notice is hereby given of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
Consensus Development Conference on ``Total Knee Replacement'' to be 
held December 8-10, 2003, in the NIH Natcher Conference Center, 45 
Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The conference will begin at 
8:30 a.m. on December 8 and 9, and at 9 a.m. on December 10, and will 
be open to the public.
    Total knee replacement (TKR) has shown increasing success in 
relieving knee pain and improving joint function for patients suffering 
from knee problems due to injury, degenerative disease, and 
inflammation. Each year, approximately 300,000 TKR surgeries are 
performed in the United States for end-stage arthritis of the knee 
joint. As the number of TKR surgeries performed each year increases and 
the indications for TKR extend to younger patients, a review of 
available scientific information is necessary to enhance clinical 
decision making and stimulate further research.
    Despite the increased success of TKR, questions remain concerning 
which materials and implant designs are most effective for specific 
patient populations and which surgical approach is optimal for a 
successful outcome. Physical, social, and psychological issues may 
influence the success of TKR, and understanding patient differences 
could facilitate the decision making process before, during, and after 
surgery, thereby achieving the greatest benefit from TKR. Particular 
attention also must be given to the treatment and timing options 
related to the revision of failed TKR surgery.
    This two-and-a-half-day conference will examine the current state 
of knowledge regarding total knee replacement and identify directions 
for future research.
    During the first day-and-a-half of the conference, experts will 
present the latest research findings on total knee replacement to an 
independent panel. After weighing all of the scientific

[[Page 49787]]

evidence, the panel will draft a statement, addressing the following 
key questions:

--What are the current indications and outcomes for primary TKR?
--How do specific characteristics of the patient, material and design 
of the prosthesis, and surgical factors affect the short-term and long-
term outcomes of primary TKR?
--Are there important perioperative interventions that influence 
outcomes?
--What are the indications, approaches, and outcomes for revision TKR?
--What factors explain disparities in the utilization of TKR in 
different populations?
--What are the directions for future research?

    On the final day of the conference, the panel chairperson will read 
the draft statement to the conference audience and invite comments and 
questions. A press conference will follow, to allow the panel and 
chairperson to respond to questions from the media.
    The primary sponsors of this meeting are the National Institute of 
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the NIH Office of 
Medical Applications of Research. The cosponsors of the meeting are: 
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the U.S. 
Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, and the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health.
    Advance information about the conference and conference 
registration materials may be obtained from IQ Solutions of Rockville, 
Maryland, by calling 301-984-1473 or by sending e-mail to [email protected]. IQ Solutions' mailing address is 11300 Rockville 
Pike, Suite 801, Rockville, MD, 20852. Registration information is also 
available on the NIH Consensus Program Web site at http://consensus.nih.gov.
    Please Note: The NIH has recently instituted new security measures 
to ensure the safety of NIH employees and property. All visitors must 
be prepared to show a photo ID upon request. Visitors may be required 
to pass through a metal detector and have bags, backpacks, or purses 
inspected or x-rayed as they enter NIH buildings. For more information 
about the new security measures at NIH, please visit the Web site at 
http://www.nih.gov/about/visitorssecurity.htm.

    Dated: August 12, 2003.
Elias A. Zerhouni,
Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 03-21216 Filed 8-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P