Analysis of Advanced Motion Kinetics and Kinematics, Correlated with Proteomic Approach to Biological Assessment of the Joint

This project runs at the interface of biomedical engineering, cell biology and clinical orthopaedic surgery. It is a directly translatable project that allows the student to develop skills applicable to a variety of disciplines and also experience with patient interaction.
The student will analyse the gait of patients using advanced motion capture technology, before and after knee replacement surgery and quantify knee range of motion, muscle strength, stability and gait kinematics. The student would primarily be assessing and quantifying the biomechanics of the individual patient and how the extent of disease and muscle weakness affects their movement and ability to undertake activities of daily living. The student would look specifically at the frontal plane kinematics and change in joint line and tibial inclination of the knee when the surgery is done with using personalised kinematic alignment techniques and mechanical alignment techniques.
The biological milieu of the joint is important to gait and function. A proteomics approach to analysis of synovial fluid obtained at the knee replacement surgery will endeavour to correlate, for the first time, the biological and biomechanical objective measurements of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, to personalise and improve their treatment and rehabilitation. The proteomics aspect of the study will further our understanding of how the biological environment affects function and builds on work at the Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, University of Manchester.
The project partners Medacta are at the cutting edge of biomedical engineering for patient benefit, and have developed inhouse 3D printing of bespoke personalised instruments and implants from 3DCT planning of surgery. The student will interact with the international bioengineering team at Medacta and learn the processes of invention to testing, licensing and commercialisation. Medacta has offered the successful student a paid internship of 6 months duration at the end of their project in addition to the placements during the studentship.