A system for monitoring implant sensor data over a cellular network (18) includes a portable computing device (16), a controller (14), and an orthopaedic prosthesis (12) configured to communicate with the controller over the cellular network. The orthopaedic prosthesis includes one or more implant sensors (104) configured to generate implant sensor data and a cellular transmitter or transceiver (106) configured to transmit the implant sensor data to the controller over the cellular network. The controller or the orthopaedic prosthesis may initiate the cellular communication. The implant sensor data is transmitted to the portable computing device by the controller. The portable computing device is configured to display the implant sensor data, or indicia thereof, to a user. The portable computing device and controller may also be used to update one or more programs executed by the orthopaedic prosthesis.
