The AAOS Registry Analytics Institute® (RAI) is a resource to the scientific community, created to improve orthopaedic and musculoskeletal care by making data analyses available. 

Investigators can submit hypotheses about information in AAOS registries.  

AAOS committees provide peer review process and oversight to which proposals are approved. Data analysis will be completed by AAOS Registry Analytics team members for all approved proposals.

Application Process

To participate in data analysis collaboration through the AAOS Registry Analytics Institute® (RAI), please complete the web-based RAI Application or email a completed PDF Application along with a current CV to AnalyticsInstitute@aaos.org. 

Eligibility

Analyses requests are open to investigators who have a well-defined hypothesis or question related to orthopaedics or musculoskeletal care. For this initiative, “investigators” are clinicians or clinician-scientists affiliated with a clinical practice or care setting. Representatives from industry, federal agencies, commercial entities, insurance companies, administrative databases, or hospital consortia are not eligible.

Request Process

The application process has two phases. The first phase is conducted immediately after applicants submit an application for AAOS staff to review for completeness and feasibility. If an application passes this phase, then the appropriate AAOS committees review the application content for statistical relevance and theoretical uniqueness. If the application is approved, the applicants will be notified. The study will then be queued for analysis to commence. The upcoming application cycle dates are available below.

Applications can be submitted until 7 p.m. (Central Time) on the day of the deadline. Submissions received after the deadline will be deferred to the next review cycle. When an application is submitted, the proposed project enters the AAOS Analyses Request and Publications pipeline and proceeds along the process shown below. Analyses for all applications will be completed and sent back to the submitter within a year of application approval. AAOS staff will try and accommodate abstract deadlines and urge submitters to apply as soon as possible to increase the likelihood of achieving desired timelines.

Application Review, Summary Flow Chart

Available Data

The American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) collects data related to procedures and post-operative care. AJRR data is linked to Medicare data to ensure capture of all inpatient and outpatient cases for patients above 65. Therefore, AAOS analysts may suggest limiting study populations to ensure accurate follow-up.

Data Analysis

Approved projects will work with the AAOS Registry Analytics team to develop an analysis plan and timeline. At the completion of the project, investigators will receive a completed, de-identified analysis.

Funding Award

The RAI provides eligible applicants with funding to support approved RAI projects. Funds are intended for use towards travel related expenses and registration to supported conferences for presentation of their RAI project. Awards are based upon merit and funding availability. 

Conferences must be a meeting with scientific merit, Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit, and a focus on arthroplasty. Funding is limited to a maximum of $3,500 per project.

Funding is available to eligible individuals and organizations (excludes representatives from industry). Those interested in applying need to identify their request in their application. Individual applicants must be United States residents. In accordance with the publication policy, the appropriate AAOS committee has final approval regarding funding. 

To ensure conference criteria are met, at least two weeks prior to submission of an abstract, award recipients must submit conference details to AnalyticsInstitute@aaos.org for final approval. All travel will follow AAOS travel reimbursement guidelines.

See a list of papers and presentations based off RAI completed applications.

Publication Policies

Scientific Publications

Recipient shall ensure that all proposed scientific publications (including manuscripts and abstracts for presentations) arising from the use of the analyses provided pursuant to this Agreement are submitted to AAOS for review and comment at least one month prior to submission for publication or making public any information that has been derived utilizing the Registry Reports. Any reasonable amendments requested by the AAOS with regards to its analyses will be incorporated. The AAOS reserves the right of veto.

If AAOS staff or volunteer leaders collaborate with Recipient on a scientific publication, such individual or individuals will be listed as a co-author in accordance with guidelines issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Recipient agrees to acknowledge the contribution made by the AAOS in all publishable work arising from the analysis and will provide copies of such publications, presentations and abstracts to be placed on the AAOS website. The acknowledgement must include the following wording:

“This article is based [in whole] [in part] on reports and/or analyses from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ American Joint Replacement Registry (AAOS).  AAOS is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse the analysis or conclusions in this article.”

Commercial/Promotional Claims 

Any public commercial/promotional claims or statements, whether issued in electronic (written, audio or audiovisual) or print format, made by Recipient that are based on or are derived from the Registry Reports shall be complete and accurate excerpts from finalized publications that have been subject to the process set forth in Section 2(b) herein. Such statements also must include a legend or footnote in conspicuous size and type that reads as follows:

“The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) is not responsible for the claims made in this [advertisement] [statement].  AAOS does not endorse companies or their products.”