Research Projects
Bone and Wound Healing
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Prevention of bacterial infections after orthopaedic (bone) implants
Clinical problem
Bacterial bone infections are a major complication in the treatment of bone fractures. These infections have tremendous consequences for the patient and cause very high healthcare and socioeconomic costs.
The study
The main goal of this project is to demonstrate that a thin coating containing specific antibiotics applied to the surface of orthopaedic and trauma implants, can effectively prevent Staphylococcal bone infections in a mouse infection model that closely mimics post-surgical human infection. These coatings, which have been developed in a previous study supported by The Wesley Research Institute, will slowly degrade after implantation into the body; the antibiotics are released thereby preventing or treating any infection in the region around the implant. The local antibiotic concentration around the implant is much higher than can be achieved by systemic, oral or intravenous application of these drugs.
Ultimate aim
There are several benefits to be expected from this project. From a clinical point of view, if the researchers demonstrate that these surface coatings successfully prevent bone infection in mice, it will be an important step towards clinical studies and the introduction of these methods into regular clinical practice. From a research point of view, the new mouse infection model and imaging method that will be developed in the study will facilitate more research on the different factors influencing the development, prevention and treatment of bone infections.
Researchers
Professor Michael Schuetz, Medical Officer
Dr Ben Goss, Research Fellow
Dr Roland Steck, Senior Research Officer
Dr David McMillan, Senior Research Officer
Dr Scott Sommerville, Orthopaedic Surgeon
Professor Axel Stemberger, Associate Professor
Project partners
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Technical University Munich, Germany -
Developing an animal model for repair of large bone damage
Clinical problem
Reconstruction of major bone loss remains a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. While autologous bone grafting is the ‘gold standard’ treatment, supplies are limited and harvesting entails significant donor site morbidity and risk of infection.
The study
This study will establish a critical sized, high load bearing tibial defect model in sheep in order to provide the standard power for future evaluation of alternative, tissue engineering based treatment concepts.
Ultimate aim
The investigators have a number of novel scaffolds within incorporated growth factors that may be useful for human bone healing, however this first needs to be tested in an animal model. This project will develop the model so that these new treatments can be tested.
Researchers
Dr Ian Dickinson, Wesley
Dr Scott Sommerville, Wesley
Dr Dietmar Hutmacher, IHBI, QUT
