Research Opportunities

The program emphasizes both basic and clinical research. A full-time staff of more than 35 professionals, including 9 PhDs is employed in orthopedic research. The biomechanics laboratory contains a sophisticated optoelectronic gait analysis laboratory that is used in projects evaluating total joint arthroplasty, cerebral palsy, osteotomy and knee ligament injuries.

Other areas of ongoing investigation include

• stress analysis of total hip and total knee prostheses
• bone remodeling
• biomechanics
• materials analysis or orthopedic implants
• development of new prosthetic devices
• tissue engineering
• bone biology
• cartilage biochemistry

Arthritis and Orthopedics Institute Research Programs

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery emphasizes interdisciplinary programs in research and selected areas of patient care. To that end, the Rush Arthritis and Orthopedics Institute was created in 1994 to develop and consolidate coordinated programs of research and patient care in the musculoskeletal field.

The Institute is comprised of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Anatomy and the Section of Rheumatology. Jorge O. Galante, MD, past chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, holds the position of Grainger Director of the Institute. Dr. Galante continues to maintain an active role in the clinical and research activities of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery as well as the Rush Arthritis and Orthopedic Institute.

Biomechanics Program

The biomechanics program applies basic principles from mechanics to the study of the human musculoskeletal system. Current research activities include the functional analysis of patients treated with various types of total joint replacement. Studies are continuing on sports-related injuries and the use of biomechanical functional evaluation to analyze various injuries and treatment modalities. The laboratory also uses analytical techniques to model the musculoskeletal system mathematically.

Biomaterials Program

The focus of the biomaterials program is on the long-term biocompatibility of permanent orthopedic implants. There is an ongoing study of metal ions released from various implant materials to evaluate potential toxic effects of the metals in the body. There is an active autopsy retrieval program whereby implants, local tissues and remote tissues are obtained from individuals after many years of successful function. Findings from these autopsy studies have provided critical insights into potential mechanisms of failure of joint replacement components.

Bone Biology Program

The use of titanium materials attached by a bone in-growth to replace defects in the skeletal system has been a noteworthy development from our laboratories. Factors that control bone in-growth and remodeling are under investigation. A new program is under way in the department to qualitate specific mechanical parameters and their relationship to a biological response in bone. More recent investigations have involved the use of bone growth factors to enhance boney attachments of cementless joint replacement implants.

Biochemistry Program

The primary emphasis of this program has been on the molecular biology and molecular immunology of cartilage matrix components, isolation and characterization of proteoglycan specific T-cell clones and monoclonal antibodies with arthritogenic potential and cartilage transplantation. Another focus of this program is the study of bone resorption following joint replacement and the basic signal transduction pathways involved in microphage/wear debris interactions.