Student Education News

Delivering benefits to joint replacement patients

Delivering benefits to joint replacement patients
Professor Ingham examinines the biological effects of wear particles from joint replacements.

The Faculty of Biological Sciences' award winning Professor, Eileen Ingham, took the strategic decision at a mid-point in her career to conduct research of interest to the orthopaedic medical community, and to engage with that community. Professor Ingham commenced a programme of research examining the biological effects of wear particles from joint replacements.

The need to understand the mechanisms occurring during joint wear led to a unique multidisciplinary collaboration between Professor Ingham [Biological Sciences] and Professor John Fisher [Engineering] at Leeds and resulted in the formation of the Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering [iMBE]. It was shown that the major cause of failure for joint replacements is wear at the surfaces of the artificial, and release of wear particles. These particles cause detrimental biological responses in the tissues surrounding the joint, which eventually lead to the joint replacement replacement failing and needing to be replaced, which means further major surgery for the patient and also significant cost to the Health Services.

This research, carried out over a fourteen year period through a strategic partnership with a major manufacturer of joint replacements, has resulted in improved hip, knee and shoulder products being used in over 100,000 patients each year. It has also led to improved pre-clinical test methods adopted by industry.

29th October 2012