Alberta Arthroplasty Research Group

Three Research Projects Selected for AARG Funding Competition

The Alberta Arthroplasty Research Group (AARG) has selected the following three studies from among the seven proposals submitted to its research funding competition:

• The long-term pedobarographic outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty and arthrodesis – $31,000.  Principal Investigator: Dr. Iain Russell.
• Cost-effectiveness and safety of bearing surfaces for resurfacing and conventional total hip replacement – $30,000.  Principal Investigator: Dr. Jason Werle.
• Bone mineral density changes after cemented total knee arthroplasty – $25,000.  Principal Investigator: Dr. Marcia Clark.

The funding is from philanthropic donations to the AARG to support applied clinical research.

The pedobarographic outcomes study will examine how joint replacement, or arthroplasty, and bone fusion, or arthrodesis – two different approaches to treating arthritis of the ankle – affect motion throughout the foot.  The study will follow a group of arthroplasty patients and a group of arthrodesis patients in Alberta for a period of 10 years.  It will also examine the impact of the two procedures on patient quality of life.

The bearing surfaces study will examine the long-term safety and compare the cost-effectiveness of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing and conventional hip-bearing surfaces.  Resurfacing involves reshaping the head of the femur, or thighbone, and capping it with metal, and inserting a metal cup into the socket creating metal-on-metal contact.  Conventional hip replacement devices require removal of the femur head and use surfaces such as metal-on-polyethylene, ceramic-on-ceramic and ceramic-on-polyethylene.  The study will also develop a decision analytic model that will synthesize information and compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the different devices evaluated in the study.

The bone mineral density study will examine bone mass loss during the first year following total knee replacement with the intention of identifying significant risk factors.  Knowing the risk factors will open up future opportunities to develop treatments for maintaining or improving bone health in high-risk patients undergoing total knee replacement.

AARG funding for these studies is on a one-time basis with renewal considered only in exceptional circumstances.