Orthopaedic Researchers Honored

The 2003 Kappa Delta Sorority and Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) research awards were presented today during the Opening Ceremonies of the 70th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in New Orleans.

This year's award winners focused on limb salvage and amputation following severe lower extremity trauma, physiologic basis and anabolic potential of low magnitude, high frequency mechanical signals, the role of endotoxin in aseptic loosening, and the clinical biomechanics of wear in total hip arthroplasty.

Michael J. Bosse, MD, Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD, James F. Kellam, MD, Andrew R. Burgess, MD, Lawrence Webb, MD, March F. Swiontkowski, MD, Roy Sanders, MD, Alan L. Jones, MD, Mark P. McAndrew, MD, Brendan M. Patterson, MD, Melissa McCarthy, ScD, Thomas G. Travison, PhD, and Renan C. Castillo, MS received the Ann Doner Vaughn Award for their paper, "Limb Salvage or Amputation Following Severe Lower Extremity Trauma: The LEAP Study."

In this study, the researchers concluded that patients with limbs as high risk for amputation, but without risk factors predisposing to poor outcomes, can be advised that reconstruction usually results in a 2-year outcome equivalent to that of an amputee.

Clinton T. Rubin, PhD received the Elizabeth Winston Lanier Award for his paper, "Revisiting Wolff's Law: The Physiologic Basis and Anabolic Potential of Low Magnitude, High Frequency Mechanical Signals."

Dr. Rubin's' work demonstrates the influence of extremely low level mechanical stimuli on bone quantity and quality, as well as the applicability of these signals in the clinic.

Edward M. Greenfield, PhD, Yanming Bi, PhD, Ashraf A. Ragab, MD, Victor M. Goldberg, MD, Jennifer L. Nalepka, BS, and Joscelyn M. Seabold, MS, received the Kappa Delta Award for their paper, "Does Endotoxin Contribute to Aseptic Loosening?"

The team of researcher's work examines the problem of aseptic loosening of orthopaedic implants caused by wear particles. Their clinical finding support this hypothesis: bacterial biofilms are found on many implants from patients with aseptic loosening and antibiotics in PMMA cement can significantly reduce the rate of aseptic loosening.

John J. Callaghan, MD, Douglas R. Pedersen, PhD, Richard C. Johnston, MD, and Thomas D. Brown, PhD, received the OREF Clinical Research Award for their paper, "The Clinical Biomechanics of Wear in Total Hip Arthroplasty."

The paper reports that the long-term follow-up of total hip arthroplasty reported by the authors and other investigators have demonstrated bearing surface wear to be the most significant problem impeding the long-term survival of the total hip arthroplasty construct.

The Kappa Delta Sorority has been working with the Academy since 1947 to support orthopaedic research. Since 1921, Kappa Delta's major philanthropic interest has been aid to children affected by musculoskeletal conditions and birth defects.

The goal of the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation is the advancement of knowledge concerning the prevention and treatment of conditions affecting the musculoskeletal and related systems and the maintenance of the general physical well being of the individual.

The 26,047-member American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org) or (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org ), is a not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade (http://www.usbjd.org ), the global initiative in the years 2002-2011 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's quality of life. President Bush has declared the years 2002-2011 National Bone and Joint Decade in support of these objectives. The Academy's Annual Meeting is being held February 5-9, 2003, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.