Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor In Joint Health And Osteoarthritis, Michael A. Pest

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases in the world. Our laboratory has shown that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling is involved in the process of cartilage degeneration in OA. Regulation of EGFR signalling by mitogen-inducible gene 6 (Mig-6) and dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP-1) allows for signal modulation, and mouse models have linked these proteins to joint pathologies. Failure to control EGFR signalling may be involved in OA progression leading to my overarching hypothesis: regulation of EGFR signalling is essential for maintenance of joint health.

I initially tested the role of Mig-6 in cartilage health …

The Association Between Soft Tissue Releases And Bony Resections Performed During Total Knee Arthroplasty And Patients' Pain And Satisfaction Postoperatively, Matt Carter

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a surgical treatment of degenerative knee conditions such as osteoarthritis to reduce pain and increase function. Intraoperative soft tissue releases (STRs) and bony resections (BRs) are necessary for a balanced and aligned TKA. It is possible that the degree of STRs and BRs is related to final outcome following TKA and thus there may be implications for patient rehabilitation, patient expectations, pain medications, and timelines for recovery. Thus, our primary objective was to examine the association between the number of STRs and BRs performed intraoperatively and patients’ satisfaction and pain at three months. We performed …

Predictors Of Appropriate Referral To Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Validation Study, Samuel J. Malian

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Approximately 45% of referrals from primary care physicians to arthroplasty surgeons are inappropriate. Currently, Canadians are waiting over three months for consultation with an arthroplasty surgeon. Reducing the proportion of inappropriate referrals will reduce the wait time to first consultation with an arthroplasty surgeon. This study’s objective was to validate a model that identified patient-reported predictors of appropriate referrals to arthroplasty. We screened 258 patients attending their first consultation with an arthroplasty surgeon. Participants completed the questionnaires prior to their appointment and the surgeon detailed each consultation outcome on a standardized form. We constructed our validation model using the same …