Harmonisation of medical devices classification systems: development of a generalised approach starting from hip prostheses. A first example of an international and standardised nomenclature to be integrated within the European Medical Device Nomenclature

Medical device (MD) nomenclatures are essential for market surveillance and vigilance activities. Currently, more than 25 arthroplasty Registries are established in Europe, each of them based on a different MD nomenclature. A common and shared nomenclature of orthopaedic implants is important to analyse implant performance across different national databases referring to a unique definition of its characteristics. Aim of this study is to describe an approach to compare and harmonise two different nomenclatures: a first step towards the organization of an international nomenclature of medical devices.