Thesis

Physical and mathematical modelling of the synovial joint and cartilage repair products

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2013
Thesis identifier
  • T13446
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Abstract
  • There is a growing incidence of younger patients contracting joint disease. Osteochondral Autograft Transfer (OAT) remains a widely adopted surgical technique to treat the presence of osteochondral lesions in the knee. In this procedure, grafts of cartilage and bone are harvested from a non-load bearing site and used to replace the damaged tissue, predominately at a load bearing location. However, it is not well understood if a mismatch exists between the mechanical properties of the graft tissues and those of the local environment in which they are placed. To investigate this, a number of the key mechanical properties of cartilage and bone are determined in tibiofemoral and patellorfemoral locations, using a porcine model analogue. These include the strength of the bone but also the aggregate modulus, Poisson‟s ratio and frictional properties of the cartilage. It was discovered significant variations do exist between the sites of interest for many of these parameters and, should this translate to human models, may have implications for the integration and survival of osteochondral grafts. However, some evidence of relative immaturity in the porcine model was found, which may have had an influence on the results. Possible alternatives to OAT include tissue engineering, which has gained substantial momentum in clinical settings, and the use of allograft tissues. However, the health and viability of these osteochondral repair products is highly dependent on the environment in which they are developed (tissue engineered tissues) or stored (allograft tissues). The preliminary design and development stages of a novel bioreactor/joint simulator capable of producing physiologically relevant mechanical stimulus are discussed. It is hoped that this device can eventually be employed to grow site-specific osteochondral tissues or store osteochondral allografts in a mechanically beneficial environment.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Black, Richard A.
Resource Type
Note
  • This thesis was previously held under moratorium from 16th September 2013 to 16th September 2017.
DOI
Date Created
  • 2013
Former identifier
  • 999962353402996

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