Our research
These projects include soft-tissue injuries of the knee (ligament, meniscus and cartilage), joint replacement surgery, fracture surgery especially in osteoporosis-related fractures, spine surgery and hand surgery. The main aim of the projects is to evaluate factors such as surgical technique, new methods, timing as well as patient related factors that influence the functional outcome and quality of life in order to improve the outcome in these conditions.
Projects
Joint replacement surgery
Each year thousands of Swedish patients are operated with joint replacement of the hip, knee or shoulder. The commonest two causes for these surgeries are osteoarthritis and fractures involving these joints. The research group aims to study how patient’s factors such age, gender, weight, medical diseases, functional status would affect the functional outcome, quality of life and perioperative complications. One project will also evaluate different strategies in initial pain control after total knee replacement. The study will moreover assess perioperative bleeding and how new strategies in local infiltration anaesthesia can reduce bleeding in order to optimize surgical visualization without the use of a tourniquet.
Another ¨knee prosthetic related project¨ aims to assess the effect and functional outcome after surgery with a new mini metal implant (mini prosthesis) suited for local chondral injuries and defects in the knee.
More information: Karl Eriksson MD, PhD, Professor
Wrist fractures
Wrist fractures are common and the treatment is controversial. The interpretation of the outcome of the various treatment procedures is complicated by the wide range of patient expectation, from the young and active to the sedentary and non-active patient.
The research group is running three randomized trials to compare different fixation techniques and different anesthetic methods. The patients are followed, evaluated and compared utilizing modern Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) instruments together with clinical outcome measures.
More information: Cecilia Mellstrand-Navarro, MD, PhD, Johanna Rundgren, MD, PhD, Hanna Südow, MD, PhD student.
Recovery after whiplash injuries of the neck
The associations between genetic factors, insurance company involvement and radiological factors and the risk of non-recovery after trauma are poorly investigated nor understood. In several studies on patient cohorts with traffic accidents, the research group investigates the relationship between different factors associated with recovery after injuries. The aims are to identify people with acute whiplash injuries who are at risk for non-recovery. The group is also performing a RCT to investigate whether an intervention in the form of an information film can result in better recovery.
More information: Eric Rydman, MD, PhD
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and meniscus injuries of the knee
The research group runs several studies focusing on the methods and timing of ACL reconstruction as well on osteoarthritis following ACL-reconstruction. These studies are both clinical trials as well as registry-based studies from the Swedish national ligament registry.
The research group is also part of a large worldwide multicenter RCT study looking at different surgical techniques in ACL reconstruction with the aim to minimize reinjuries of the affected knee.
Another study evaluates the effect and functional outcome of a novel method (developed at our department) to substitute a previously damaged and resected meniscus in the knee.
More information: Karl Eriksson, MD, PhD, Professor.