Through their collaborative research efforts and clinical trials, surgeons at the Duke Total Joint Center are testing and developing new procedures and new prostheses to make joint replacements work better and last longer.

Knee Replacement Research

Our surgeons are involved in developing and using new tools for total knee arthroplasty. Current studies examine:

• Outcomes of total knee replacement with computer-assisted navigation
• Computer navigation verses standard instruments for total knee arthroplasty
• Study of medicinal injections during total knee replacement
• Modular tibial total knee arthroplasty components

Hip Replacement Research

Our doctors evaluate current approaches to total hip arthroplasty, hip implants, and hip revision techniques. Recent and current studies examine:

• How hip resurfacing and hip replacement affect gait symmetry
• Activity scale for patients after total hip replacement
• Hip resurfacing after failed free vascularized fibular graft
• Greater trochanteric osteoplasty in revision hip arthroplasty
• Comparison of various materials to be used in revision hip surgery
• Evaluation of the painful total hip

Other Joint Replacement Research

Other joint replacement research being conducted by doctors in the Total Joint Center include studies related to the following:

• The looming total joint replacement surgeon shortage
• Pre-operative screening and preparation for hip and knee
• Operative outcomes for shoulder replacement surgery (comparing patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis)
• Cost-effectiveness of various arthroplasty procedures and prosthetic devices
• Impact of diabetes on outcomes for total joint replacement
• Managing risk and liability associated with hip and knee implants

In addition to the above studies, our surgeons are constantly evaluating the effectiveness of current procedures and studying outcome data from procedures over a longer time-span.

Surgeons in the Duke Total Joint Center recently received a grant from the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons to conduct a study entitled, Effect of Surgical Approach on Gait Mechanics and Physical Function Following Total Hip Replacement.