The overall goal of this revision application is to build an interdisciplinary research team capable of developing and utilizing quantitative, non-invasive technologies for studies of soft tissue (tendon to bone) healing with a focus on the rotator cuff. The proposed team would combine an expert in the field of tendon and tendon to bone healing, Dr. Soslowsky, with experts in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with proficiency in tendon and bone, Dr. Navon and Dr. Wehrli respectively, to address important health problems. More specifically, Dr. Soslowsky is the PI on an active NIH/NIAMS R01 grant (the parent grant) comparing the efficacy of various post-operative activity levels on tendon to bone healing following surgical repair in a rotator cuff animal model. Dr. Navon has developed a NMR double-quantum-filtered (DQF) method for quantifying tendon structure, with which he has performed both animal and human studies. Dr. Wehrli has developed a magnetic-resonance (MR) technique (virtual bone biopsy) for quantifying trabecular bone structure, with which he has done multiple human studies. This team is therefore uniquely positioned to develop non-invasive techniques for quantifying tendon to bone healing in the rotator cuff, as well as to use these techniques to compare treatments (e.g., post-operative activity) making the team an ideal fit for the Funding Opportunity Announcement (AR-08-001: NIAMS Building Interdisciplinary Research Team (BIRT) Revision Awards). As stated above, the parent grant compares the efficacy of post-operative activity protocols on tendon to bone healing in a rotator cuff animal model. More specifically, we have previously shown that reducing the level of post-operative activity, by immobilization, resulted in improved biological, structural and mechanical properties of the repaired tendon to bone insertion site compared to either cage-activity or exercise [1, 2]. Importantly, the improvement in tissue structural properties, collagen organization, preceded the improvement in mechanical properties. Thus, collagen organization may be an early indicator of tendon to bone healing, a finding which forms a basic premise for this revision application. If collagen organization can ultimately be quantified in vivo, it could be used as a critical assay to determine when the insertion site has healed enough so as to benefit from remobilization. This would have tremendous scientific and clinical implications. Unfortunately, the only methods currently available to quantify collagen organization in our model require tissue excision at sacrifice, and are therefore not transferable clinically. This represents a significant barrier to future success in this area that can be removed through this interdisciplinary collaboration. ? ? ?
Rotator cuff tendon injury is a common and debilitating condition that affects the young and old alike. The overall purpose of this revision application is to build an interdisciplinary research team capable of developing and utilizing quantitative, non-invasive imaging technologies for studies of soft tissue (tendon to bone) healing with a focus on the rotator cuff. If successful, this approach would fundamentally alter the manner in which postoperative protocols for rotator cuff tendon injury and repair are evaluated which could dramatically improve functional outcome following rotator cuff surgery.
| Peltz, Cathryn D; Hsu, Jason E; Zgonis, Miltiadis H et al. (2012) Intra-articular changes precede extra-articular changes in the biceps tendon after rotator cuff tears in a rat model. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 21:873-81 |
| Thomas, Stephen J; Miller, Kristin S; Soslowsky, Louis J (2012) The upper band of the subscapularis tendon in the rat has altered mechanical and histologic properties. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 21:1687-93 |
| Peltz, Cathryn D; Hsu, Jason E; Zgonis, Miltiadis H et al. (2011) Decreased loading after rotator cuff tears leads to improved biceps tendon properties in a rat model. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 20:698-707 |
| Peltz, Cathryn D; Sarver, Joseph J; Dourte, Leann M et al. (2010) Exercise following a short immobilization period is detrimental to tendon properties and joint mechanics in a rat rotator cuff injury model. J Orthop Res 28:841-5 |
| Ward, Samuel R; Sarver, Joseph J; Eng, Carolyn M et al. (2010) Plasticity of muscle architecture after supraspinatus tears. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 40:729-35 |
| Dourte, LeAnn M; Perry, Stephanie M; Getz, Charles L et al. (2010) Tendon properties remain altered in a chronic rat rotator cuff model. Clin Orthop Relat Res 468:1485-92 |
| Sarver, Joseph J; Dishowitz, Michael I; Kim, Soung-Yon et al. (2010) Transient decreases in forelimb gait and ground reaction forces following rotator cuff injury and repair in a rat model. J Biomech 43:778-82 |
| Peltz, Cathryn D; Dourte, Leann M; Kuntz, Andrew F et al. (2009) The effect of postoperative passive motion on rotator cuff healing in a rat model. J Bone Joint Surg Am 91:2421-9 |
| Perry, Stephanie M; Getz, Charles L; Soslowsky, Louis J (2009) Alterations in function after rotator cuff tears in an animal model. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 18:296-304 |
| Perry, Stephanie M; Getz, Charles L; Soslowsky, Louis J (2009) After rotator cuff tears, the remaining (intact) tendons are mechanically altered. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 18:52-7 |
Showing the most recent 10 out of 11 publications
