BME Graduate Seminar - Spencer Lake, PhD

Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Seminar (BME:5010)

Spencer P. Lake, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Washington University in St. Louis

"Use of an Animal Model to Study Post-traumatic Elbow Contracture "

Abstract: Post-traumatic joint contracture (PTJC) is a debilitating condition wherein increased stiffness following injury leads to motion loss and disability. The elbow joint is particularly susceptible to PTJC and suffers from a lack of adequate treatment options. The progression of elbow contracture is unpredictable and poorly understood, making it difficult to devise prevention strategies. Our lab developed an animal model to study PTJC of the elbow using injury and immobilization to induce contracture in rats. Our animals demonstrate significantly impaired joint motion and biological disruptions similar to the human condition. Importantly, these changes persist following remobilization of the joint, demonstrating the induction of long-term joint dysfunction following instigation of clinically relevant soft tissue injuries. Our work represents the first animal model capable of investigating injury specific to the elbow, a complex yet highly understudied joint. We have identified which peri-articular tissues contribute to PTJC and elucidated temporal patterns of pathogenesis. We have also utilized several longitudinal evaluation techniques to quantify the functional impact of PTJC over time. Ongoing work is investigating the ability of physical therapy or biological treatments (i.e., drug or cell based) to reduce the fibrotic tissue response and prevent motion loss following injury. Long-term, this work will improve fundamental understanding of joint health and help guide translatable treatment strategies for PTJC in the elbow and other joints.