Development of techniques to improve mechanical analyses of the reconstructed shoulder joint

肩关节炎是一种常见的慢性疾病，也是疼痛、残疾和利用卫生保健服务的重要原因。肩关节炎的发病率随着年龄的增长而增加，因此，这种疾病的患病率和负担正在迅速增加。用金属和/或塑料植入物置换患病的肩关节，可以最成功和最可预测地缓解该关节的关节炎疼痛。 不稳定和过早的植入物松动会使肩关节置换复杂化，并且是这种重建失败的主要原因。 虽然现在有各种各样的植入物系统，但从工程角度来看，这些设计的机械含义仍有待理解，特别是关于关节运动和载荷。优化这些关节的功能需要在实验室中进行基于工程的生物力学研究。因此，本研究的长期目标是进行一系列全面的调查，旨在研究肩关节植入物的生物力学，特别关注用新知识武装外科医生，工程师和治疗师，这将增强植入物的设计，改善当前的手术技术，并制定最佳的治疗方案。本研究拟于未来五年内，发展肩关节测试系统，以探讨植体重建肩关节之生物力学特性。 此外，将开发允许量化肩关节稳定性的技术，以供最终在手术室中临床使用。这些研究很可能会导致最先进的检测程序的发展，从而允许进行广泛的基于研究的研究。 还可以预期，植入物测试系统的建立将成为植入物制造商的流行方法，因为他们的设计最终可以在该系统中进行跟踪，以评估新的植入物。 最终，这些研究将改善患者肩关节植入物的机械性能。

Shoulder arthritis is a common chronic disease and a significant cause of pain, disability and utilization of health care services. The incidence of shoulder arthritis increases with age and, as a result, the prevalence and burden of this disorder is increasing rapidly. Replacement of the diseased shoulder with metal and/or plastic implants provides the most successful and predictable relief of pain for arthritis of this joint. Instability and premature implant loosening can complicate shoulder replacement, and is a major cause of failure of this reconstruction. Although a variety of implant systems are now available, much remains to be understood regarding the mechanical implications of these designs from an engineering perspective, particularly with regard to joint motion and loading. Optimizing the function of these joints necessitates engineering based biomechanical studies in the laboratory. Hence, the long-term goal of this research is to conduct a comprehensive series of investigations, aimed at the study of the biomechanics of shoulder implants, with special interest in arming the surgeon, engineer, and therapist with new knowledge that will enhance the design of implants, improve current surgical techniques, and develop optimal therapy protocols. Over the 5-year tenure of this work, it is proposed to develop shoulder-testing systems to investigate the biomechanics of implant reconstructed shoulder joints. Also, techniques that permit the quantification of shoulder stability for eventual clinical use in the operating room will be developed. It is likely that these studies will result in the evolution of a state of the art testing program that will permit a wide range of research-based studies. It is also anticipated that the establishment of the implant testing system will become a popular approach for implant manufacturers, as their designs can eventually be trailed in this system to assess new. Ultimately, these studies will improve the mechanical performance of shoulder implants in the patient.