A system for monitoring a body includes a surgical implant configured for implantation within a body, a sensory module coupled to the surgical implant and configured for implantation into the body in conjunction with the surgical implant, and a communication module coupled to the surgical implant and configured for implantation into a body in conjunction with the surgical implant. The sensory module is configured to monitor characteristics of the surgical implant, surrounding tissue and/or adjacent tissue. The communication module is electrically coupled to the sensory module and is configured to communicate a signal derived from said characteristics to an external entity.