IAccelerate
iAccelerateWe are conducting a clinical research study, sponsored by Stryker, to evaluate clinical outcomes of an accelerated rehabilitation program following arthroscopic treatment of massive rotator cuff tears in the shoulder with the InSpace Subacromial Tissue Space System. This treatment program evaluates the efficacy of at-home versus formalized rehabilitation treatment programs. Patients qualify if they are 65 years or older, in generally good health, experience persistent shoulder pain for at least 3 years and failed non-operative treatments and have an MRI confirming massive rotator cuff tear. The device used in this study is FDA approved for patients over the age of 65 years.This study’s focus is the postoperative plan for patients’ recovery. Patients are randomized to either the control group or the study group. The control group has patients participate in on-site physical therapy, as they would if they were not part of the study. The study group patients complete evaluations with the physical therapists in person and then complete the exercises taught by the physical therapists at home. These patients always have access to physical therapists if needed throughout their home rehabilitation regimen.
SpringBok
We are conducting a clinical research study to develop unique technology that replaces current methods to produce a rapid, accurate assessment of rotator cuffs by producing 3D reconstruction of the musculature captured during standard of care MRI. To qualify, patients must be between 18-80 years old, in generally good health, undergoing rotator cuff repair surgery for the first time, and have an MRI within the last 6 months.Preoperatively, rotator cuff repairs are difficult to predict the success of the procedure. This study is exploring the possibility of using technology to find consistencies in preoperative MRI images that will help predict positive outcomes after a rotator cuff repair. Patients complete evaluations for their shoulder progress and complete an MRI at 1 year after surgery. This study is sponsored by an SBIR grant to Springbok Analytics.
NeuroSpan Bridge
We are conducting a clinical research study to evaluate the efficacy of a novel nerve regeneration technology compared to the current standard of care nerve regeneration tool. Patients who have neve injuries may receive an implant during surgery to help the nerve regrow properly and help patients move and feel their extremities again. This study uses a new nerve implant that, if successful, will help nerves grow more naturally than the current nerve implants. To qualify, patients must have a distal nerve injury within 3 months, no contraindications to surgical repair, and no history of nerve repair. These nerve implants have been registered with the FDA but are not currently FDA approved. This study is sponsored by Auxilium Biotechnologies and has oversight by the FDA. Patients are randomized to either the control group or the study group. The control group receives an nerve implant that is currently FDA approved for small injuries, and larger injuries use nerve graphs from the patient. The study group patients receive the NeuroSpan Bridge implant for all size injuries.
SportsPro
The SportsPRO Study is a Stryker sponsored, retrospective, multi-center data collection study aimed to leverage existing outcomes data for patients who have undergone sports medicine procedures involving one or more Stryker Sports Medicine implantable devices. By aggregating and analyzing outcomes data into a registry across a broad network of research centers of excellence, this study aims to establish a robust, real-world dataset to monitor, and further characterize the real-world performance and safety profile of these implantable devices. Such evidence is essential for supporting clinical decision-making and characterize device performance in real-world settings.
Student (BRIO) Projects
We currently have 12 students conducting research with BRIO, 2 college students, 1 physical therapist doctoral students and the rest are medical students. Their research mostly focuses on shoulder surgery types and outcomes. All of these students conduct research with the oversights of one of our physicians. Dr. Hartzler, as the medical director of BRIO, oversees all projects and volunteers. Many of our students are working on long-term follow-up projects. Our current projects include:
- Long term follow-up after rotator cuff repairs
- Long term follow-up on shoulder instability
- Shoulder tendon quality outcomes
- Latarjet long term follow-ups
- Clinical outcomes of using shoulder pacemakers
- Worker’s Compensation Health Literacy in Foot and Ankle patients
- Bone Health Outcomes: risk factors for non-referrals
- 2 year minimum follow up after InSpace Balloon placements
- Physical therapy outcomes in Shoulder Osteoarthritis Patients
- Clinical outcomes after biological auto-injections
