Biomechanical cadaver studies
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biomechanical cadaver studies
IRAS ID
213624
Contact name
James Kennedy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Cadaver study using lower limbs to investigate lower limb biomechanics and validate alternative biomechanical investigation methods. Currently, following a joint replacement procedure, patients can continue to have disabling pain, abnormal motion, or loosening of the replacement. We will measure forces and motion experienced by tissue following joint replacement procedures with an aim to determine if there is an underlying mechanical problem. A secondary aim is to investigate how accurate different measurement techniques are.
Lay summary of study results: We achieved our aim which was to re-establish a laboratory to undertake biomechanical studies to improved the treatment of musculoskeletal pathology using donated cadaveric specimens (hips and knees from appropriately donated bodies). We conducted a series of different investigations over a five year period using lower limb specimens that were assessed with and without implants primarily using validated force and motion analysis systems.
One investigation to assess the outcome of a new knee replacement design, with the focus being the kinematics of the Patello-femoral joint. The kinematics of intact cadavers were measured. However, due to COVID, the knee replacement could not be manufactured so the study was not completed.Another investigation focused on the meniscus (Fig 1), which is a C-shaped pad of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber and spreads the load between the thigh and shin bones, providing stability and minimising wear and damage to the knee. The aim was to enhance the understanding of the mechanical functionality of the meniscus particularly the complex structure of the tissue at micro and nano scale which are not visible to the naked eye. Observations on 50 meniscal samples extracted from 6 human menisci (3 lateral and 3 medial) revealed fundamental features of structural morphology and allowed us to quantitatively describe the 3D organisation of elastin and collagen fibres bundles. 3D regular waves of collagen bundles are arranged in “honeycomb-like” cells that are comprised of pores surrounded by the collagen and elastin network at the micro-scale. This type of arrangement propagates from macro to the nanoscale. See https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftrack.pstmrk.it%2F3ts%2Fwww.nature.com%252Farticles%252Fs41598-019-55243-2%252Ffigures%252F1%2FNBTI%2FGF-BAQ%2FAQ%2Fa89f8e7d-1ab3-465e-82ed-6d469e1c08df%2F1%2FyXSnX5MVGE&data=05%7C02%7Cliverpoolcentral.rec%40hra.nhs.uk%7Cde00cfc07f3c4934716a08de23600803%7C8e1f0acad87d4f20939e36243d574267%7C0%7C0%7C638987092515580523%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LbzwHavFmLraucYXUK5d%2Fm1%2Fl7ZwKy9UWOAlM59bt00%3D&reserved=0 (Sci Rep . 2019 Dec 10;9:18732).
This work forms a solid base for explaining the correlation between the nano-microscale structure and mechanical properties of the meniscal tissue. This is an essential step towards building accurate multiscale biomechanical modelling of the tissue and exploring a range of synthetic materials that could mimic the structure/function characteristic of the meniscal tissue. This work has been published.REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0859
Date of REC Opinion
6 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion