NaviGAIT: New Software To Simplify Interpretation Of Gait Analysis Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$179,905.00
Summary
NaviGAIT is a new software package to support interpretation of gait analysis data. It is based upon Gait Profiling, a new technique to reduce the complexity of such data. At present data intepretation is restricted to a few expert clinicians. The new software will allow non-expert clinicians to interpret data and hence make gait analysis more accessible, cheaper and more clincally useful. A module of NaviGAIT specifically for children with cerebral palsy will be the first to be developed.
Improving The Functional Outcomes Of Lower Limb Orthopaedic Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
While orthopaedic surgery usually achieves pain relief and improves function somewhat, it can often leave a patient unable to perform certain activities. And these abnormal movement patterns are likely to cause further problems. This project will objectively measure post-surgical function, in order to improve the surgery and rehabilitation of some of the most complex orthopaedic conditions. The goal is that patients receive the maximum benefit from surgery.
A Prospective Study To Identify The Mechanical Causes And Methods For Early Detection Of Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Knee osteoarthritis is a great cost to society, financially and in quality of life. Anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat the symptoms, but many people receive joint replacements to stop pain and improve function. We need to prevent osteoarthritis, but the causes for this common disease are largely unknown. Animal studies have shown two particular mechanical factors that cause osteoarthritis, which are seen in the walking and running, or gait, patterns of some people. We call these ....Knee osteoarthritis is a great cost to society, financially and in quality of life. Anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat the symptoms, but many people receive joint replacements to stop pain and improve function. We need to prevent osteoarthritis, but the causes for this common disease are largely unknown. Animal studies have shown two particular mechanical factors that cause osteoarthritis, which are seen in the walking and running, or gait, patterns of some people. We call these pathological gait patterns as they impose larger-than-normal forces on the knee's articular surfaces. We measure these knee forces with our new computer knee model coupled with data that we measure in a gait analysis laboratory. These forces may cause knee osteoarthritis in humans, but this is still unknown. Currently there is no simple medical test to detect the early onset of knee osteoarthritis. The bones in the knee are one of the first structures to show osteoarthritic changes. Using our new computerised analysis of high definition X-ray of the knee we can identify subtle differences in the knee due to osteoarthritis. This will be compared with changes to joint assessed using MRI. Osteoarthritis develops slowly in normal people, so to study progression of knee osteoarthritis we need a human population that has a higher risk of developing the disease. Partial meniscectomy in the knee is a common surgery performed to improve knee function in those who have suffered a knee meniscus injury. However, partial meniscectomy patients have a high risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, using partial meniscectomy patients we are investigating if pathological gait patterns cause knee osteoarthritis, measuring the development of the disease with our new X-ray methods. With the gait analysis methods we can also identify the movements that characterise these pathological gait patterns so we can formulate rehabilitation programmes to help prevent knee osteoarthritis.Read moreRead less
An RCT To Determine The Optimum Frequency Of Botulinum Toxin Injections To The Calf In Children With Cerebral Palsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,358.00
Summary
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common cause of disability amongst children across the developed world. There are about 1800 children with CP in Victoria alone. It is caused by damage to the brain in early childhood. Children with CP have difficulty controlling how their muscles work. Muscles are often spastic, which means that they are switched on all the time, and this makes walking and performing other tasks difficult. As the child grows the spastic muscles can become too short and this occur ....Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common cause of disability amongst children across the developed world. There are about 1800 children with CP in Victoria alone. It is caused by damage to the brain in early childhood. Children with CP have difficulty controlling how their muscles work. Muscles are often spastic, which means that they are switched on all the time, and this makes walking and performing other tasks difficult. As the child grows the spastic muscles can become too short and this occurs can only be corrected by orthopaedic surgery. The spasticity in particular muscles can be reduced by injecting them with Botulinum Toxin (commonly known as Botox and used cosmetically to remove wrinkles). The effects of a single injection have been closely studied and we know that the effect of the toxin wears off. Children are thus offered repeat injections but there have been no studies to investigate what is the most appropriate interval between injections. The aim of this study is to determine this. In routine clinical practice children tend to get injections approximately once a year. A consideration of what we know about how the toxin acts, however, suggests that injections every 4 months might be expected to be more effective. This study will thus randomly allocate children to receive injections either every twelve months or every four months over a two year period. During the study both groups will be monitored to see if there are differences in how easily they can walk and perform other functions and in their overall quality of life. After the study the children will also be assessed to see whether there is any difference in the length of the spastic muscles. There have been no other studies to investigate the most appropriate interval between injections. This study will thus be the first anywhere and will be the foundation for guidelines for the ongoing use of botulinum toxin in children with cerebral palsy in Australia and throughout the world.Read moreRead less
Outcome Of High Tibial Osteotomy For Medial Compartment Osteoarthritis Of The Knee: A Long-term Follow-up
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$65,070.00
Summary
In the young, active person, medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee is a difficult problem to manage. Surgical options, such as total knee replacement, are often unsuccessful, due to functional restrictions and the need for revision surgery. An alternative is to extend the life of the arthritic knee by moving the primary weight-bearing surface to the other compartment (laterally), in an operation known as a high tibial osteotomy. This research looks at the outcome of this procedure.
In Vivo Patellofemoral Joint Measurement Using Kinematic Radiostereometric Analysis (RSA)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$141,000.00
Summary
Complications following total knee joint replacement continue to be a major cause for revision surgery and leads to a significant financial burden in terms of health care expenditure. Recent studies suggest that many of these complications are associated with post-surgical pain from the patella knee cap joint, commonly termed anterior knee pain (AKP). Post-surgery AKP may be influenced by the motion of the patella. Recent prospective, randomised trials have compared clinical outcomes between peo ....Complications following total knee joint replacement continue to be a major cause for revision surgery and leads to a significant financial burden in terms of health care expenditure. Recent studies suggest that many of these complications are associated with post-surgical pain from the patella knee cap joint, commonly termed anterior knee pain (AKP). Post-surgery AKP may be influenced by the motion of the patella. Recent prospective, randomised trials have compared clinical outcomes between people with TKA in which the patellar surface is replaced (patellar resurfacing) or retained, but have been unable to accurately account for differences in patellar movement in those people with post-surgery complications. To date, studies of patellar motion after total knee replacement have been limited to two-dimensional analyses. This study addresses the technological limitations of previous trials by utilising accurate techniques for directly measuring skeletal motion using kinematic radiostereometric analysis (RSA). These data will measure patellar kinematics in three-dimensions for the first time. This information will allow optimisation of the design of TKA and the surgical techniques required for their implantation. Furthermore, the results will assist in the identification of surgical indications for patellar resurfacing, and the kinematic factors associated with anterior knee pain following total knee replacement surgery.Read moreRead less