Biological Finger Joint Replacement

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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis in Canada, and finger OA affects atleast 6.8% of individuals over the age of 26 years. In the absence of disease modifyingtreatments, current therapeutic modalities are aimed at reducing pain. These treatmentsalleviate symptoms but do not prevent the processes that result in the changes characteristicof this disease. Failure of these treatments usually culminates in joint replacement surgery.Current studies reporting outcomes of artificial finger joint replacements have highlighted thehigh rate of failure and lack of efficacy in restoring hand function by such implants. We havedeveloped an alternative biological approach to joint repair that involves formation of apersonalized biological replacement designed for secure fixation by bone ingrowth whilepresenting a surface lined by cartilage that will mimic the native joint form. In time as the bonesubstitute component degrades and is replaced by natural tissues (bone), this replacementpart 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 jointreplacement in a pre-clinical animal model. The aim is to design a joint replacement that canbe used to resurface a joint in the finger or wrist affected by either osteoarthritis or anyinflammatory arthritis such as psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis.With the results obtained from the proposed studies it will be possible to progress towardstranslating our approach into a clinical treatment for people with hand arthritis.