Research team
Mechanical pathways in the onset and progression of cartilage lesions of the hip joint.
Abstract
The hip functions as a ball and socket joint, with cartilage layers that cover the joint surfaces on both sides protecting it from impacts and permitting smooth movements. When the cartilage is impaired by mechanical, infectious or inflammatory causes, the joint might eventually wear down - a disabling condition known as osteoarthritis. Recent literature indicates that up to 80% of all hip osteoarthritis cases might be related to subtle variations in the joint geometry.: These variations have been suggested to give rise to peak joint stresses and altered load distributions on the cartilage. Although the mechanism is getting increasingly recognized in the literature, profound understanding of its true impact is lacking. Further, the prevalence of these morphological variations is reported to be much higher than the actual number of patients presenting for treatment. The aim of this thesis is to explore the impact of variation in hip joint anatomy on load distribution during daily living activities. I intend to clarify the role of mechanical drivers in the onset and progression of cartilage lesions of the hip joint by means of advanced multidimensional statistics and personalized load and stress predictions. The final step of this thesis will be to gradually transfer these findings into clinical practice and at the operating theatre by providing virtual pre-surgical planning, accurately implemented during surgery, using state of the art navigation technology.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Steenackers Gunther
- Co-promoter: Audenaert Emmanuel
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Mechanical pathways in the onset and progression of cartilage lesions of the hip joint.
Abstract
The hip functions as a ball and socket joint, with cartilage layers that cover the joint surfaces on both sides protecting it from impacts and permitting smooth movements. When the cartilage is impaired by mechanical, infectious or inflammatory causes, the joint might eventually wear down - a disabling condition known as osteoarthritis. Recent literature indicates that up to 80% of all hip osteoarthritis cases might be related to subtle variations in the joint geometry. These variations have been suggested to give rise to peak joint stresses and altered load distributions on the cartilage. Although the mechanism is getting increasingly recognized in the literature, profound understanding of its true impact is lacking. Further, the prevalence of these morphological variations is reported to be much higher than the actual number of patients presenting for treatment. The aim of this thesis is to explore the impact of variation in hip joint anatomy on load distribution during daily living activities. I intend to clarify the role of mechanical drivers in the onset and progression of cartilage lesions of the hip joint by means of advanced multidimensional statistics and personalized load and stress predictions. The final step of this thesis will be to gradually transfer these findings into clinical practice and at the operating theatre by providing virtual pre-surgical planning, accurately implemented during surgery, using state of the art navigation technology.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Steenackers Gunther
- Co-promoter: Audenaert Emmanuel
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project