Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

HAKA: Routine Follow-up at 10 Years After Hip- or Knee Arthroplasty: Wasting Resources or Appropriate Healthcare?

Netherlands1,500 participantsStarted 2025-09-01

Plain-language summary

After undergoing total hip or total knee arthroplasty, current guidelines recommend routine follow-up with an X-ray within 3 months and again at 1 year. Follow-up at 5 years (for hip arthroplasties) or every 5 years (for knee arthroplasties) is also considered worthwhile according to the guideline. However, these follow-up appointments require considerable time from patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, and it is unclear whether they are truly beneficial. It is possible that a single follow-up within 3 months is sufficient. This could potentially prevent over 100,000 unnecessary hospital visits per year, resulting in significant cost savings. If patients or healthcare providers have concerns, they can always request an additional follow-up. The HAKA trial consists of three different work packages (WPs). This trial (WP2) investigates the 10-year follow-up, WP1 examines the 1-year follow-up, and WP3 is a qualitative study exploring the experiences and perceptions of patients and healthcare professionals. The aim of the HAKA trial is to safely reduce routine follow-up appointments after total hip or knee arthroplasty and to revise current clinical guidelines accordingly.

Who can participate

Age range

50 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Underwent primary THA or TKA approximately 10 years ago * Age 50 years or older at time of THA or TKA * Capable and willing to complete questionnaires (when applicable) * Understanding Dutch or English * Willing to provide written informed consent in case the patient will complete questionnaires Exclusion Criteria: * Other indication for surgery than osteoarthritis * Deceased * Revision arthroplasty of hip or knee, except a conversion from unicompartmental knee arthroplasty to TKA or from hip hemiarthroplasty/resurfacing to THA * Already participating in this study due to another hip or knee surgery

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Number of complications

Timeframe: Assessed until 11 years after implantation

Type of complications

Timeframe: Assessed until 11 years after implantation

Healthcare consumption

Timeframe: Assessed at 10 years after implantation and then at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07070570

SponsorReinier Haga Orthopedisch Centrum

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2028-08-31

Contact for this trial

J. H. Pasma

079-2065595 Onderzoek@rhoc.nl

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Hip Arthroplasty, Total trials