Orthopaedics research at Murdoch

• Total hip, knee and shoulder replacement surgeries are common orthopaedic procedures, with over 100 000 joint replacement surgeries reported in Australia last year[1]. With the rise in osteoarthritis and an ageing population, it is projected that joint replacement surgery will continue to increase. 
• Orthopaedic research is particularly important as there is an increasing number of technologies, devices and equipment available in this field. Evaluating patient outcomes (including recovery times, mobility, pain, hospital readmissions and patient experience) ensures this technology is used effectively.
• Evidence in support of specific rehabilitation pathways following orthopaedic surgery is relatively limited. Research that evaluates current and novel approaches to orthopaedic rehabilitation, inform rehabilitation practices and improve patient outcomes.

• Innovation of orthopaedic clinical practice to improve surgical and patient outcomes.
• Radiological and clinical outcomes of joint replacement and rotator cuff repair surgery.
• Computer navigation and clinical outcomes in shoulder replacement surgery.
• Remote-monitored rehabilitation and its impact on patient recovery following total knee replacement surgery.

The PROSPECT Study: A Personalised, Post-operative Cycling Exercise Regimen following Total knee Arthroplasty
This study will evaluate a remotely monitored cycling exercise program following total knee arthroplasty. This new method uses a remotely monitored bicycle power meter in order to prescribe and modify an exercise regimen, tailored specifically to the patient during the weeks following their surgery. In this randomised controlled trial, we will evaluate the short- and long- term outcomes of patients who complete the cycling program compared to those that have completed a non-cycling post-operative program.  Results from this study will help inform the acceptability and efficacy of a post-operative cycling exercise program, which is measured and adjusted remotely according to patient feedback and performance. 

The Cycle Sprint Test: Assessing Muscle Power and Patient Outcomes Following Knee Arthroplasty
This study examined a new method to measure lower limb muscle power using a bicycle power meter. The first phase of the study examined the reliability of this new test in healthy participants. The second phase of the study examined the post-operative recovery of muscle power and related functional outcomes following total knee replacement. Both studies are now finished and the results published.

The ABSOLUT Global Hip Study: Clinical and radiological outcomes using the Absolut femoral prosthesis and the Global cup system
This study evaluates post-operative radiology and clinical outcomes in patients who undergo primary total hip replacement using the Absolut femoral stem and Global acetabular cup. Patients will be recruited over a two-year period and followed up to 10 years after surgery.

Multi-Center Clinical Evaluation of the ATTUNE® Revision System in the Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty
Five-year, prospective, multi-center, non-randomized, non-controlled study of the ATTUNE® Revision total knee prostheses, utilizing the fixed bearing (FB) and rotating platform (RP) tibial component with the posterior stabilizing (PS) femoral component in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Multi-Centre Clinical Evaluation of the ATTUNE® Revision System in Complex Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty
Five-year, prospective, multi-centre, non-randomized, non-controlled study of the ATTUNE® Revision total knee prostheses, utilizing the fixed bearing (FB) and rotating platform (RP) tibial component with the posterior stabilizing (PS) femoral component in complex primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

KASPAR Study: Outcomes following randomised patellar resurfacing vs retention in anatomically designed total knee arthroplasty
A randomised prospective study, examining patient reported outcome measures in patients who have their patella resurfaced during total knee arthroplasty compared to those who do not have patella resurfacing. Patient outcomes including pain, range of movement, radiology and function is assessed at 4 weeks and 12 months following surgery.

RAISE Study: A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair augmented with REGENETEN™ Bioinductive Implant System in Full-thickness rotator cuff tear (large or massive) Repair versus ARCR alone
The study examines tendon healing and patient outcomes in patients requiring full-thickness rotator cuff tear repair or revision repair surgery. Conventional arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery is compared to rotator cuff repair augmented with a collagen implant designed to enhance tendon repair and accelerate recovery of function. 

RePACT Trial: Does Collagen Scaffold Augmentation of High Grade Partial Rotator Cuff Tendon Tears Improve Early Functional Recovery? A Randomized Controlled Trial
A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) that seeks to investigate and compare the post-operative clinical and radiological outcome of either surgical rotator cuff repair (current standard, control arm) versus scaffold augmentation (using the REGENETENTM scaffold, experimental arm) for symptomatic partial thickness rotator cuff tears. Patient outcomes will be collected over a 24-month post-operative period and will include a range of subjective and functional outcomes, radiological measures and patient satisfaction.

OrthoATI for partial thickness cuff tears
This randomised controlled trial evaluates the Perth-developed technology of injecting a patient’s own cultured tendon stem cells into a partial tear of the rotator cuff tendon, with the aim of achieving intrinsic tendon healing without surgery. 

OrthoSensor in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty- a pilot trial
During reverse total shoulder replacement, a novel pressure sensor embedded in the trial joint insert is used to measure joint load prior to implantation of the definitive insert. By correlating intra-operative joint load measurements with post-operative clinical function scores, this study aims to determine the optimal joint load magnitude. 

The SPINE Registry
The purpose of this registry is to monitor the long-term outcome of spinal conditions and treatments required. The registry is aiming to improve the management of spinal conditions and how treatments, including surgery, are performed. The registry will allow patient outcomes to be assessed using questionnaires before and after surgery. These will determine how much improvement there has been from a treatment.

 

St John of God Murdoch Hospital

Professor Allan Wang - Orthopaedic Surgeon
Professor Piers Yates - Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mr Mark Hurworth - Orthopaedic Surgeon
A/Prof Chris Jones - Orthopaedic Surgeon
A/Prof Gareth Prosser - Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mr Greg Cunningham - Orthopaedic Surgeon
Ms Zaheerah Haywood - Orthopaedic Research Officer

Wang A, Mackie K, Hayes A, Laurenson R. (2020) Computer Navigation in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Measuring the Learning Curve. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 29, 617-623
DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2019.08.01

Jones, C. W., Parsons, R., & Yates, P. J. (2020). Increased incidence of venous thromboembolism following hip or knee arthroplasty in winter. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery. 28, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1177/2309499020920749 

Edwards P, Ebert J, Joss B, Ackland  T, Wang A. (2020) A Randomised Trial Comparing Two Rehabilitation Approaches Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. doi.org/10.1177/1758573220937394 June 2020

Hurworth M, Evans J, Gibbons R, Mackie K, Edmondston S. (2021) Cycle sprint test for the evaluation of lower limb muscle power after total knee arthroplasty: a proof-of-concept study. Arthroplasty Today. 9, 118-121.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artd.2021.05.007 

Joseph Z, Calvert N, Salmona M, Harper M, Swann A, Tan R, Blades K, Yates P. (2020). Enhanced recovery principles applied to revision hip and knee arthroplasty leads to better patient outcomes. Journal of Orthopaedics. 22, 543-547. DOI: 10.1016/j.jor.2020.11.004

For further enquiries about our current research projects, publications or general enquiries, please contact the MCOR Team via the details below:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 08 9428 8637

1. Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR). Hip, Knee & Shoulder Arthroplasty: 2021 Annual Report, Adelaide; AOA, 2021: 1-432. [Accessed from: https://aoanjrr.sahmri.com/annual-reports-2021]