More than seven million people in the United States are living with an artificial hip or knee according to a report given at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons this year.

“Americans are living longer, more active lifestyles and seek out ways to continue to do so when faced with joint problems that a hip or knee implant can solve,” said Curtis Hartman, M.D., associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine.

In order to ensure the best clinical outcomes for patients, national implant registries have sprung up around the world to track surgical techniques, which implants work and which ones don’t, Dr. Hartman said.

UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, is in the process of joining the American Joint Replacement Registry to begin tracking how well implants placed in patients are performing.

There are new implants coming onto the market all the time, Dr. Hartman said. The advantage of a registry is in knowing as soon as possible which product performs the best or has the highest failure rates.

“They all sound good and have promising preliminary data or the FDA wouldn’t approve them, but sometimes the best ideas don’t always work,” Dr. Hartman said. “This really will help orthopedic surgeons and patients understand which implant is best for them on an individual basis.”

The most common causes for implant failure, Dr. Hartman said, are loosening, infections, dislocation and soft tissue damage due to an immune reaction by the body to the materials used to make the implant.

“In one case of a metal on metal hip implant, it took ten years to figure out before a trend emerged that led surgeons to cease using that particular type of implant,” he said. “If we had a registry we would have seen this happen sooner and responded much more quickly.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A group that represents Nebraska state troopers has withdrawn its grievance over a statewide radio system that was criticized as unreliable.

The State Troopers Association of Nebraska pulled its grievance after problems with the service became public and state officials moved to address them.

Brian Petersen, president of the association and the State Law Enforcement Bargaining Council, says members still have concerns about radio communications in an emergency.

The system is used by the Nebraska State Patrol, the State Fire Marshal’s office, the Game and Parks Commission and other agencies. It failed during a June 2012 police standoff in Alliance, forcing Nebraska troopers to use personal cellphones to communicate.

Brenda Decker, the state’s chief information officer, says officials have made upgrades intended to help law enforcement.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s new 531 area code will soon be used for new lines in the eastern third of the state.

The state Public Service Commission said Monday that phone companies are running out of numbers in the 402 area code.

Regulators began planning for the new area code roughly a decade ago.

Cullen Robbins with the state Public Service Commission says a number of the last 402 prefixes were assigned this spring when a phone company started offering new services.

The new 531 area code will be overlaid on top of the 402 area, so current 402 customers won’t be forced to switch phone numbers.

But all calls in the area will require the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia has entered into a concealed handgun reciprocity agreement with Nebraska.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey made the announcement Monday. Under the agreement, each state will honor a valid concealed carry permit issued by the other.

Morrisey says Nebraska previously recognized concealed handgun licenses issued by West Virginia.

West Virginia now has full reciprocity agreements with 31 states. Seven states have been added since July 2013.

Five additional states honor West Virginia permits, but concealed carry licenses issued by those states are not currently recognized by West Virginia.