Utah Osseointegration Clinical Research Lab
WELCOME TO THE UTAH OSSEOINTEGRATIONCLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM
Our research is focused on advancing our understanding of amputee patient populations and advancing new prosthetic technologies using a data driven approach. Our long-term goal is to help develop new therapeutic strategies that improve the health and clinical monitoring of patients that have suffered from limb loss.
Most amputee patients are currently using socket technology to attach their prosthetic limbs. The conventional socket technology has a number of issues such as skin breakdown, poor fit, and pain. Direct skeletal attachment of prosthetic limbs, known as “Osseointegration”, offers the potential to eliminate many of the limitations of sockets.
Changing the capabilities of prosthetic devices
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Lower Extremity:
2025
- Longitudinal Recovery Following A Bone Anchored Prosthesis for Transfemoral Amputees: Prospective 12-month Follow-up Cohort Study
- Jesse C. Christensen DPT, PhD, Bart Gillespie DPT, Erik K. Kubiak MD, Jayant Agarwal MD, Sarina Sinclair PhD, 2025. CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO POSTER
2023
- Changes in frontal plane kinematics over 12-months in individuals with the Percutaneous Osseointegrated Prosthesis (POP)
- Darter BJ, Syrett ED, Foreman KB, Kubiak E, Sinclair S. Changes in frontal plane kinematics over 12-months in individuals with the Percutaneous Osseointegrated Prosthesis (POP). PLoS One. 2023 Feb 22;18(2):e0281339. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281339. PMID: 36812173; PMCID: PMC9946262.
2022
- A preliminary, observational study using whole-blood RNA sequencing reveals differential expression of inflammatory and bone markers post-implantation of percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses
- Miller A, Jeyapalina S, Agarwal J, Mansel M, Beck JP. A preliminary, observational study using whole-blood RNA sequencing reveals differential expression of inflammatory and bone markers post-implantation of percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses. PLoS One. 2022 May 26;17(5):e0268977. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268977. PMID: 35617338; PMCID: PMC9135298.
- The First FDA Approved Early Feasibility Study of a Novel Percutaneous Bone Anchored Prosthesis for Transfemoral Amputees: A Prospective 1-year Follow-up Cohort Study
- Sinclair S, Beck JP, Webster J, Agarwal J, Gillespie B, Stevens P, Gililland J, Kubiak E. The First FDA Approved Early Feasibility Study of a Novel Percutaneous Bone Anchored Prosthesis for Transfemoral Amputees: A Prospective 1-year Follow-up Cohort Study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2022 Nov;103(11):2092-2104. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.06.008. Epub 2022 Jul 29. PMID: 35908658.
2021
- Use of computer tomography imaging for analyzing bone remodeling around a percutaneous osseointegrated implant
- Wankier Z, Taylor C, Drew A, Kubiak E, Agarwal J, Sinclair S. Use of computer tomography imaging for analyzing bone remodeling around a percutaneous osseointegrated implant. J Orthop Res. 2022 Sep;40(9):2065-2075. doi: 10.1002/jor.25247. Epub 2021 Dec 27. PMID: 34910325.
2019
- Analysis of the Stomal Microbiota of a Percutaneous Osseointegrated Prosthesis: A Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study
- Beck JP, Grogan M, Bennett BT, Jeyapalina S, Agarwal J, Bartow-McKenney C, Bugayev J, Kubiak E, Sinclair S, Grice E. Analysis of the Stomal Microbiota of a Percutaneous Osseointegrated Prosthesis: A Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study. J Orthop Res. 2019 Dec;37(12):2645-2654. doi: 10.1002/jor.24421. Epub 2019 Aug 2. PMID: 31317568.
Preclinical Research Studies
2014
- Radiographic evaluation of bone adaptation adjacent to percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses in a sheep model
- Jeyapalina S, Beck JP, Bachus KN, Chalayon O, Bloebaum RD. Radiographic evaluation of bone adaptation adjacent to percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses in a sheep model. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2014 Oct;472(10):2966-77. doi: 10.1007/s11999-014-3523-z. PMID: 24557934; PMCID: PMC4160482.
- Progression of bone ingrowth and attachment strength for stability of percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses
- Jeyapalina S, Beck JP, Bloebaum RD, Bachus KN. Progression of bone ingrowth and attachment strength for stability of percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2014 Oct;472(10):2957-65. doi: 10.1007/s11999-013-3381-0. PMID: 24258685; PMCID: PMC4160472.
2012
- Efficacy of a porous-structured titanium subdermal barrier for preventing infection in percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses
- Jeyapalina S, Beck JP, Bachus KN, Williams DL, Bloebaum RD. Efficacy of a porous-structured titanium subdermal barrier for preventing infection in percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses. J Orthop Res. 2012 Aug;30(8):1304-11. doi: 10.1002/jor.22081. Epub 2012 Jan 31. PMID: 22294380.
Upper Extremity:
2024
- Transhumeral prosthesis use affects upper body kinematics and kinetics.
- Dunn JA, Gomez NG, Wong B, Sinclair SK, Henninger HB, Foreman KB, Bachus KN. Transhumeral prosthesis use affects upper body kinematics and kinetics. Gait Posture. 2024 Jul;112:59-66. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.05.007. Epub 2024 May 11. PMID: 38744022.
- Extended physiological proprioception is affected by transhumeral Socket-Suspended prosthesis use.
- Dunn JA, Wong B, Sinclair SK, Henninger HB, Bachus KN, Foreman KB. Extended physiological proprioception is affected by transhumeral Socket-Suspended prosthesis use. J Biomech. 2024 Mar;166:112054. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112054. Epub 2024 Mar 20. PMID: 38513398.
- Longitudinal Recovery Following A Bone Anchored Prosthesis for Transfemoral Amputees: Prospective 12-month Follow-up Cohort Study
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NEW! New Horizons in Health: Bringing Veteran Health Care into the Future. Hosted by Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Under Secretary for Health. Episode 06: Osseointegrated Prosthetics.
https://youtu.be/hD6E2uFaitA?si=dtznfKaF6F32abAp
• Dr. Sarina Sinclair Discusses Breakthroughs In Prosthetic Research On Wreaths Across America Radio Morning Show https://medicine.utah.edu/orthopaedics/news/2024/06/dr-sarina-sinclair-discusses-breakthroughs-prosthetic-research-wreaths
• Dr. Sarina Sinclair (Dir, Osseointegration Clinical Research Program, Veterans Affairs) Wreaths Across America Radio Morning Show https://soundcloud.com/wreathsacrossamericaradio/dr-sarina-sinclair-dir-osseointegration-clinical-research-program-veterans-affairs-6-10-2024?
• New in-the-bone implants for below-the-knee and above-the-elbow amputees are fundamentally changing the capabilities of prosthetic devices. https://www.facebook.com/100064777056188/posts/886696980166196/?mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=NsUqBsz472AZrz4q
• Study looks at new means of attaching artificial limbs https://www.vcuhealth.org/news/technology-for-attaching-artificial-legs
• The Department of Veterans Affairs awards $27.8M for development of percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis https://pmr.vcu.edu/research/research-areas/regenerative-and-rehabilitation-medicine/the-department-of-veterans-affairs-awards-278m-for-development-of-percutaneous-osseointegrated-prosthesis/
• Office of Undergraduate Research Awardees (Fall 2021, Spring 2021, & Fall 2020) https://our.utah.edu/urop-awardees/
• Bone-Anchored Devices that Permanently Pass Through the Skin to Maximize Amputee Function https://discovery.med.utah.edu/2019/bone-anchored-devices-that-permanently-pass-through-the-skin-to-maximize-amputee-function/
•Healthy Living. One Step Further, Keeping His Head in the Game. April 2018 Magazine Page 30. LINK TO PAGE• Groundbreaking Clinical Trial Prepares For Next Phase https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2018/groundbreaking-clinical-trial-prepares-for-next-phase/
• Veteran amputees begin using first ever prosthetic implants https://www.ksl.com/article/38640974/veteran-amputees-begin-using-first-ever-prosthetic-implants• Through VA-funded research, veterans become first Americans to undergo new prosthetic limb operation https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2016/clinical-trial-aims-change-lives-amputees/
• University of Utah Speakers https://prod.pmr.medicine.utah.edu/pmr/conference/2014/speakers/u-of-u-speakers
• U Researchers Developing Prosthetic Implant https://archive.unews.utah.edu/news_releases/u-researchers-developing-prosthetic-implant/
• Veteran amputees recovering at Salt Lake VA Hospital (Post-OI Surgery) https://www.ksl.com/article/37730428/veteran-amputees-recovering-at-salt-lake-va-hospital• Veteran amputees to undergo first ever prosthetic implants https://www.ksl.com/article/37617374/veteran-amputees-to-undergo-first-ever-prosthetic-implants
• Salt Lake VA hospital to test prosthetic legs that attach to bone https://www.ksl.com/article/25221745/salt-lake-va-hospital-to-test-prosthetic-legs-that-attach-to-bone
• Osseointegration Feasibility Trials Receive Approval https://opedge.com/news_2012-07-26_05/
• VA Research Fair Highlight Early Feasibility Study of the Percutaneous Osseointegrated Prosthesis for Above-Knee Amputees https://www.research.va.gov/about/events/research_fair/Research_Fair_Highlights21.pdf
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Percutaneous Osseointegration Prosthetic (POP) Study for Above Knee Amputees
NOW ENROLLING PARTICIPANTS!
A Prospective Study to Characterize the Efficacy and Safety of a Percutaneous Osseointegrated Prosthesis. Clink the link for more info on the VA website!
If you are interested in learning more and to find out if you might be eligible, please call
1-833-412-9359.Above Elbow Amputee (AEA)
Screening for Research and DevelopmentScreening of Above Elbow Amputees for Advanced Prosthetic Devices.
The prospective clinical observations of veteran AEA patients will be used to create a clinical database of the AEA patient population and develop a clinical classification system for use by the healthcare and research communities.
Post-Operative Monitoring
As the patient population with Osseointegrated Prosthetics grows, we are working on improving post-operative monitoring techniques.
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A key component of the success of our program is our collaborations with key players in the government, health care and medical device industry. Working towards a common goal of advancing prosthetic technologies. These important players include the Department of Veteran Affairs, The University of Utah, Enovis Healthcare, and clinical researchers from around the country.
