American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Presents Prestigious Research Awards

Newswise — BALTIMORE, MD – In order to recognize and encourage cutting-edge research in key areas of orthopaedic sports medicine, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) will present ten research awards and seven grants during its Annual Meeting, July 12-15 in Baltimore, MD. As a leader in orthopaedic sports medicine, AOSSM annually provides more than $350,000 to research initiatives and projects around the country. Highlights of this year’s award recipients include:

2012 AOSSM/ConMed Linvatec Young Investigators GrantsThe Young Investigator Grants (YIG) are specifically designed to support young researchers who have not received prior funding. This year AOSSM selected two winners: Mark C. Drakos, MD (Feinstein Institute for Medical Research) for "Enhancement of Achilles Tendon Repair Viscoelasticity with Blockade of Matrix Metalloproteinase” which will examine possible healing options for Achilles tendon injuries, and Benton E. Heyworth, MD (Children's Hospital Boston) for "Trans-Articular versus Retro-Articular Drilling of Stable Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial," a study designed to investigate different surgical outcomes for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), which damages cartilage and bones.

2012 AOSSM/BioMimetic Sandy Kirkley Clinical Research Outcome GrantTo honor the memory and spirit of Dr. Kirkley, AOSSM established a grant of $20,000 that provides start-up, "seed," or supplemental funding for an outcome research project or pilot study. This year’s recipient is Olufemi Ayeni, MD, MSc, FRCS© from McMaster University. His project, “Arthroscopic Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Pilot Randomized Trial” will investigate the outcomes of arthroscopic surgery to treat hip problems caused by femoroacetabular impingement.

2012 AOSSM/Smith & Nephew Innovative Outcomes Assessment GrantNew in 2011, this grant was initiated to support development of innovative approaches to measuring the effects of surgical procedures in orthopaedic sports medicine. This $25,000 grant is meant to advance the evaluation of clinical outcomes related to surgery by encouraging novel approaches, techniques, and/or methodology that will facilitate and enhance clinical research. Gregory D. Myer, PhD from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center was selected as this year’s recipient for his project "Optimization and External Validation of Non-invasive Outcome Prediction Algorithm for Knee Osteochondritis Dissecans in Children."

2012 AOSSM/Sanofi Biosurgery Osteoarthritis Grant The second annual Sanofi Biosurgery Osteoarthritis Grant was awarded to two individuals: Heinz K. Hoenecke, MD from the Scripps Clinic for his basic science research examining in vivo tissue regeneration with nanomagnets, and C. Benjamin Ma, MD from the University of California, San Francisco, for his clinical research examining ACL injuries, gender and cartilage degeneration. The AOSSM/Sanofi Biosurgery Osteoarthritis Grant funds investigations related to early osteoarthritis and/or prevention of OA progression. This one-year award of $50,000 supports a lab/basic science project and is chosen by the AOSSM Research Committee.

Aircast Award for Basic ScienceVoted by the AOSSM Fellowship Committee, this year’s winning paper is: “Simple Guidelines for Anatomic Femoral Tunnel Placement in ACL Reconstruction” by Alexander D. David MD of Access Sports Medicine, Exeter, NH, Charles Brown Jr. MD from Charles Brown Orthopaedic Clinic in Wellesley, MA, and Mark E. Steiner MD from New England Baptist Hospital in Wellesley, MA.

Aircast Award for Clinical ScienceVoted by the AOSSM Fellowship Committee, this year’s winning paper is: “Biceps Tenotomy vs Tenodesis in the Younger Active Patient Under Age 55: Is there a Difference in Strength and Outcomes?” by Jamie Friedman BS, Jennifer L. FitzPatrick MD, Lucas S. Rylander MD, Christine Bennett MS, Armando F. Vidal, MD and Eric C. McCarty MD in a combined effort of CU Sports Medicine in Boulder, CO and the Orthopedic Center of Illinois in Springfield, IL.

Cabaud Memorial AwardGiven to the best paper researching hard or soft tissue biology, this award is selected by the AOSSM Awards Subcommittee with awardees receiving $2000. This year’s winning paper is: “The Effect of Mechanical Loading on Tendon to Bone Healing” by Carolyn M. Hettrich MD, MPH (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics), Selom Y. Gasinu MD, Brandon S. Beamer MD, Mark E. Stasiak BS, Patrick Birmingham MD, Alice J.S. Fox MSc, Xiang-Hua Deng MD, Olivia Ying DPT, and Scott A. Rodeo MD.

Excellence in Research AwardThis award is selected by the AOSSM Awards Subcommittee with principal investigators receiving $2,000. This year’s winning paper was from the University of Michigan and titled “A Comparison of Tissue Engineered Scaffold-less Bone-Ligament-Bone Constructs and Patellar Tendon Autografts Used for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Replacement in Sheep.” Study authors included: Jinjin Ma MS, Michael J. Smietana MS, Ilea T. Swinehart BS, Tatiana Y. Kostrominova PhD, Deneen M. Wellik PhD, Edward M. Wojtys MD, Lisa M. Larkin PhD, and Ellen M. Arruda PhD.

O’Donoghue Sports Injury Research AwardThis award is given annually to the best overall paper that deals with clinical based research or human in-vivo research. In 2012 it is given to authors: Steven J. Svoboda MD, Brett D. Owens MD, Travis Harvey PhD, Patrick Tarwater PhD, William Brechue PhD, and Kenneth L. Cameron PhD, MPH, ATC for their paper “The Association Between Serum Biomarkers of Cartilage Turnover and Subsequent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture.” The awardee is selected by the AOSSM Awards Subcommittee with recipients receiving $2,000.

Hughston AwardThis year’s recipients of the Hughston Award are Jan Harald Røtterud MD, Einar A. Siversten MD, PhD, Magnus Forssblad MD, PhD, Lars Engebresten MD, PhD, and Asbjørn Arøen MD, PhD for their paper “Effect of Gender and Sports on the Risk of Full-Thickness Articular Cartilage Lesions in Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Injured Knees: A Nationwide Cohort Study from Sweden and Norway of 15,783 Patients.” The award is given to the most outstanding paper published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine and is chosen by a panel of AJSM editors and reviewers and receives $5,000.

AJSM Systematic Review AwardThe winning paper is chosen by a panel of AJSM editors and reviewers and receives $5,000. Authors Samuel C. Wordeman BS, Carmen E. Quatman MD, PhD, Christopher C. Kaeding MD, and Timothy E. Hewett PhD, FACSM received this year’s award for their paper “In Vivo Evidence for Tibial Plateau Slope as a Risk Factor for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis.”

T. David Sisk Award for Best Original Research PaperThe winners were selected from the best papers in original research submitted to Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. The award will include a $2,500 cash prize and a plaque. This year’s winner is “Infrapatellar Straps Decrease Patellar Tendon Strain at the Site of the Jumper’s Knee Lesion: A Computational Analysis Based on Radiographic Measurements” by authors Michael Lavagnino, PhD, Steven Arnoczky, DVM, Julie Dodds MD, and Niell Elvin PhD.

T. David Sisk Award for Best Review PaperThe winners were selected from the best review papers submitted to Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. The award will include a $2,500 cash prize and a plaque. This year’s recipient is “Osteoarthritis after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: The Importance of Regaining and Maintaining Full Range of Motion” from authors K. Donald Shelbourne MD, Heather Freeman MPT, and Tinker Gray MA.

T. David Sisk Award for Best International PaperThe winners were selected from the best international papers submitted to Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. The award will include a $2,500 cash prize and plaque. This year’s winner of the best international research paper is “Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment in Symptomatic Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: Preliminary Results in a Group of Active Patients” by Alberto Gobbi MD, Georgios Karnatzikos, Vivek Mahajan MD, and Somanna Malchira.

For more information on AOSSM research projects and awards please visit www.sportsmed.org and click on the “Research” tab.

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The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is a world leader in sports medicine education, research, communication and fellowship, and includes national and international orthopaedic sports medicine leaders. The Society works closely with many other sports medicine specialists, including athletic trainers, physical therapists, family physicians, and others to improve the identification, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids. For more information on AOSSM or the STOP Sports Injuries campaign, visit www.sportsmed.org or www.stopsportsinjuries.org