Monitoring of Forces Generated during Limb Reconstruction
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Monitoring the loads carried by a 6-degree-of-freedom Taylor spatial frame external fixator for optimised control of bone healing.
IRAS ID
105624
Contact name
Ian McCarthy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
Limb reconstruction frequently involves lengthening of a bone, or transport of a segment of bone to fill in a gap, creating new bone by a process called distraction osteogenesis. The proecedure requires attachment of an external Taylor spatial frame to the bone, and gradually moving one part of the bone by about 1 mm a day until the required amount of displacement is achieved. The frame needs to remain in place for a considerable time after this to allow tissue in the gap to mineralise and consolidate sufficiently to be able to allow full weightbearing without the frame. The whole process takes a long time and the current frame design does not allow monitoring of the progress of healing. We wish to develop a new frame that can automate the distraction process and also monitor the healing of the bone. In order to do this, we need to know what forces are experienced by the frame during the healing process.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0387
Date of REC Opinion
17 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion