Serafim Dionyssopoulos
Pronouns:
Research Mentor(s): Lindsey Lepley
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Athletic Training / Kinesiology
Program:
Authors: Serafim Dionyssopoulos, Lindsey Lepley
Session: Session 5: 2:40 pm – 3:30 pm
Poster: 58
Abstract
The Comparative Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Laboratory (CORL) is focused on investigating innovative therapeutic strategies for restoring musculoskeletal health following traumatic joint injuries. Utilizing rodent models, non-invasive anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are induced in rodents, followed by the assessment of various treatments to address deficits in muscle size, strength, and activation. The primary focus is to translate benchtop discoveries into practical, clinical applications. Overall the CORL aims to expedite recovery from ACL injuries, advance orthopedic rehabilitation practices, and enhance lifelong health. Within this laboratory, the nano-computer tomography (CT) team conducts a specialized investigation into the impact of ACL injury on bone health, specifically by quantifying the presence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis through metrics like bone porosity in rodent knees. Employing imaging processing software, the Dragonfly software CT, scans of rodents’ knees are analyzed. Segmentations of the scan slides are used to perform calculations determined by the software, translating imaging data into quantified values. This data serves as the basis for statistical comparisons between rodent knees. One of the key metrics of interest is the quantitative analysis of bone porosity in rodent knees subjected to ACL injury, compared to the data of non-injured counterparts. Preliminary findings indicate a positive correlation between ACL injury and increased bone porosity, attributed to the degradation of bone and articular cartilage in the affected area post-injury. In the near future, the lab plans to analyze the impact of muscle recovery therapies, such as electrical stimulation, on their ability to mitigate degenerative bone changes by promoting muscle health. These findings will enable the exploration of protocols and their efficacy in rescuing the tibiofemoral joint that can be translated back to humans. This research not only deepens our understanding of the intricate relationship between ACL injury and bone health but also provides valuable insights for potential therapeutic interventions.
