The UK National Ligament Registry

The National Ligament Registry (NLR) was launched in 2011 by Orthopaedic surgeons, with an aim to help improve the management and outcome of knee ligament reconstructive surgery.

It was initiated in association with BASK, BOSTAA and the BOA and is run by a Steering Group.

The stimulus for the NLR is simple; in order to improve best practice, there needs to be constant analysis of the outcome of knee ligament reconstruction. The registry allows consultants to:

  • Collect demographic data, understanding the nature of the injury
  • Identify trends in practice, helping to track new developments
  • Identify techniques that may have suboptimal outcome at the earliest opportunity
  • Provide functional outcome data and complication rates, to better advise patients on expectations
  • Fully understand the results of their surgery on patients.

And now in 2020:

The NLR is delighted to be recommended as an essential part of BASK- BOSTAA Audit standards: detailing Best Practice for Management of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries. Please download HERE.

The national knee societies acknowledge that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common injury usually affecting young and active individuals. The aim of treatment is to restore functional stability of the knee joint. Monitoring outcome is essential and key to understanding improvements in surgery and treatment decisions for patients.