Orthopedic Research Laboratory

The Orthopedic Research Laboratory (ORL) provides a comprehensive range of clinical and research services at a central location which can rapidly and effectively address the orthopedic needs of our clinical patients, our regional industry partners and other investigators.

Two of our faculty, Dr. Carl Kirker-Head, MRCVS, (large animal) and Dr. Karl Kraus, DVM, (small animal) oversee and pursue ORL activities. A full time Research Associate (John McCool) with an MS in biology also supports the ORL, in association with our clinical hospital technicians.

The ORL staff and faculty have experience undertaking clinical assessments in a broad range of species including horses. Tissue regeneration has been the focus of a number of ORL initiatives, particularly with regard to assessing the efficacy of growth factors and stem cells in the healing of tissue defects of bone and other skeletal tissues. Most recently the ORL has been assessing the efficacy of a new meniscal repair device for horses, a new cartilage defect resurfacing technology, the safety of commonly used nutraceuticals, the use of novel arthroscopic instrumentation, and the surgical management of navicular disease. Since 1997 a total of 38 different veterinarians and scientists from 14 institutions outside of the Veterinary School have participated in ORL research studies.

The data generated from these clinical research studies has been presented at national and international meetings of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the European College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Orthopedic Research Society, and the International Conference on Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissue. Publications are routinely contributed from the ORL to peer reviewed scientific journals including the Journal of Orthopedic Research, Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, Veterinary Surgery, Connective Tissue Research, and the American Journal of Veterinary Research.

The ORL contributes towards a total of approximately 65,000 gross sq. ft. of dedicated research animal facilities on the 582 acres AAALAC accredited TCSVM Grafton Campus. The ORL is located within the Hospital for Large Animals (HLA). Principal research equipment available at that location include an Instron Model 8511 servohydraulic materials testing device, a Picker 5000 spiral CT, an Hologic Q1000 DXA scanner, nuclear scintigraphy (Siemans LFOV Gamma Camera), 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 immediate environment.

Recent Publications:

Kirker-Head CA, Kirker-Head M. Safety of an Oral Chondroprotective Agent in Horses. Accepted for Publication in Veterinary Therapeutics. November 2001.

Landis WJ, Hay Kraus BL, Kirker-Head CA. "Vascular-mineral spatial correlation in the normally calcifying turkey leg tendon". Accepted for Publication in Connective Tissue Research. November 2001.

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.

Kirker-Head CA. Potential Applications and Delivery Strategies of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 43:65-92, 2000.

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.

Kraus KH, Kadiyala S, Wotton HM, Kurth A, Shea M, Kirker-Head CA, Hayes WC, Bruder SP. Critically sized osteo-periosteal femoral defects: a dog model. Journal of Investigative Surgery 12:115-124, 1999.

Colgan SA, Hecker A, Kirker-Head CA, Hayes T. Application of the Synthes AO/ASIF 4.5mm cannulated bone screw in equine bone. Vet Surgery 27:540-546, 1998.

Kirker-Head CA. Gerhart TN, Armstrong R, Schelling S, Carmel LA. 'Healing bone using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 and copolymer'. Clin Orthop. 349:205-217, 1998.

Kirker-Head CA, Nevins M, Palmer R, Nevins M, Schelling SH: A new animal model for maxillary sinus floor augmentation: Evaluation parameters. Dental Implantology (Japanese edition of original manuscript listed below). 4:87-95, 1997.

Kirker-Head CA, Nevins M, Palmer R, Nevins M, Schelling SH: A new animal model for maxillary sinus floor augmentation: Evaluation parameters. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants.12:403-411,1997.