Biological Finger Joint Replacement
Description: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis in Canada, and finger OA affects at least 6.8% of individuals over the age of 26 years. In the absence of disease modifying treatments, current therapeutic modalities are aimed at reducing pain. These treatments alleviate symptoms but do not prevent the processes that result in the changes characteristic of this disease. Failure of these treatments usually culminates in joint replacement surgery. Current studies reporting outcomes of artificial finger joint replacements have highlighted the high rate of failure and lack of efficacy in restoring hand function by such implants. We have developed an alternative biological approach to joint repair that involves formation of a personalized biological replacement designed for secure fixation by bone ingrowth while presenting a surface lined by cartilage that will mimic the native joint form. In time as the bone substitute component degrades and is replaced by natural tissues (bone), this replacement part will allow for complete joint regeneration to the desired function. The goal of this research proposal is to develop and evaluate a small joint biologic joint replacement in a pre-clinical animal model. The aim is to design a joint replacement that can be used to resurface a joint in the finger or wrist affected by either osteoarthritis or any inflammatory arthritis such as psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis. With the results obtained from the proposed studies it will be possible to progress towards translating our approach into a clinical treatment for people with hand arthritis.
Amount: CA$309,900
Funding type: grant
Funder scheme: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)
Start date: 2018-04-01
End date: 2021-03-31
Investigator: Rita Kandel
Institution: Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (Toronto)
Funded outputs count: 1
Funder award ID: 158286_1
OpenAlex ID: G3688507937