Effect of Component Placement and Syndesmosis Fusion in Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Sponsor: Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation
Career Development Award
Charles L. Saltzman, M.D.
Professor
of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering
The
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
e-mail: Charles-Saltzman@uiowa.edu
|
Name |
Organization |
Role on Project |
|
M. James Rudert, Ph.D. |
University of Iowa
|
Co-Investigator |
|
Thomas D. Brown, Ph.D. |
University of Iowa |
Co-Investigator |
Recent reports of unprecedented success from low constraint, uncemented total ankle replacement (TAR) have raised great interest in the practicing orthopaedic community. Despite this surge of enthusiasm, and dramatic increase in TAR surgical volume, many fundamental biomechanical issues remain ambiguous. For the two leading classes of contemporary TAR designs, we propose an integrated series of studies (in vivo measurements, radiographic follow-ups, laboratory cadaver models, and finite element analyses) to evaluate the effect of 1) implant positioning, 2) initial ligamentous tensionins, and 3) tibiofibular syndesmosis fusion on a) peri-implant bony stresses, b) ankle joint kinematics, c) periankle ligament strain, and d) intra-component stresses. The proposed series of studies will enable the Principal Investigator to develop improved scientific investigative skills and insights to conduct a focused line of research in ankle replacement and reconstruction.