Carl A. Kirker-Head
Associate Professor
Department of Clinical Sciences
Orthopedic Surgery
Marilyn M. Simpson Chair in Equine Medicine
Director, Orthopaedic Research Laboratory
Phone: 508-839-7926
Fax: 508-839-7922
Email: carl.kirker-head@tufts.edu

Education
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Vet MB) - University of Cambridge, England - 1983
Master of Arts (MA) - University of Cambridge, England - 1984

Board Certification
American College of Veterinary Surgeons
European College of Veterinary Surgeons

Laboratory Personnel
Ashley Walsh

General Research Interest

Investigative Interests
Bone growth and remodeling, bone repair in response to injury, bone grafting. Bone inductive and mitotic proteins. Bone cell culture therapy. Surgical and other orthopedic disease models. Musculo-skeletal vascular disease. Bone and soft tissue mechanics. Ligament and tendon physiology and response to injury. Skeletal tissue engineering. Orthopedic device development.

Clinical Interests
Clinical equine athletic injury including non-adaptive bone disease. Orthopedic surgery, particularly internal fixation and arthroscopy. Equine hoof form and function, including corrective farriery. Equine vascular disease. Clinical pharmaceuticals.

On-going Studies
"Silk scaffolds for bone formation². NIH funded. Assessment of natural silk as facilitator of new bone formation and as a possible delivery vehicle for bone inducing proteins.

³Evaluation of a Novel Implant for Repair of Full-Thickness Cartilage Defects in the Goat Stifle - Preliminary Study². ArthroSurface Inc. Assessment of a new method for treating focal cartilage defects in humans and animals.

³Novel device assessment for arthroscopic synovial ablation². Smith & Nephew, Inc. Development of new arthroscopic (key-hole) instruments for use in humans and animals.

"Development of a Novel Arthroscopic Surgical Technique for the Treatment of Navicular Disease in the Horse². Kahn Family Foundation. Evaluation of a new technique for this debilitating disease of the equine hoof.

Specialized Capabilities or Interests

1. Orthopedic equine surgery
2. General equine surgery
3. Arthroscopic surgery
4. Implantology
5. Medical device and drug testing
6. Disease models
7. Advanced imaging modalities

Major Specialized Equipment Items Available:
Instron Model 8511 servohydraulic materials testing device; a Picker 5000 spiral CT; an Hologic Q1000 DXA scanner; a digital high resolution gamma camera (IS2 NuCamma Enhanced Technologies, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.); digitized fluoroscopy (Shimadzu RS-110 Remote radiology/fluoroscopy room with UD150L 630MA 50 KW ); and a Kistler model Z4852 piezoelectric quartz crystal force plate Gait Analysis System. Video-endoscopy, a high speed treadmill, comprehensive surgical facilities, a media center, and clinical pathology and pathology facilities complement the environment.

Selected Publications

1. Landis WJ, Hay Kraus BL, Kirker-Head CA. ³Vascular-mineral spatial correlation in the normally calcifying turkey leg tendon². Accepted for Publication in Connective Tissue Research.
2. Kirker-Head C, Kirker-Head M. Safety of an Oral Chondroprotective Agent in Horses. Veterinary Therapeutics. 2:345-353, 2001.
3. Hennig G, Hay-Kraus BL, Fister R, King VL, Steckel RR, Kirker-Head CA. Comparison of two methods for presurgical disinfection of the equine hoof. Vet Surgery. 30:366-373, 2001.
4. Kirker-Head CA. Potential Applications and Delivery Strategies of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 43:65-92, 2000.
5. Kirker-Head CA, Chandna VK, Agarwal RK, Morris EA, Tidwell A, O'Callaghan MW, Rand W, and Kumar MSA . Substance P and PGE2 levels in normal and abnormal equine joint fluids. Amer J Vet Res 61:714-718, 2000.
6. Kirker-Head CA. Gerhart TN, Armstrong R, Schelling S, Carmel LA. ³Healing bone using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 and copolymer². Clin Orthop. 349:205-217, 1998.
7. Kirker­Head CA, Nevins M, Palmer R, Nevins M, Schelling SH: A new model for maxillary sinus floor augmentation: Evaluation parameters. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants.12:403-411,1997.

Back to the Top