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Orthopedics

Improving orthopedic patient care

We conduct research related to muscles, joints and bones to help patients prevent and recover from injuries and to stay active as they age. Orthopedic research is conducted at Regions Hospital, Methodist Hospital and TRIA Orthopaedic Centers in partnership with physicians from the University of Minnesota. We explore the latest orthopedics research in the areas of:

  • Concussion
  • Foot/ankle
  • Geriatric fractures
  • Hand/wrist
  • Hip
  • Knee
  • Musculoskeletal radiology
  • Rehabilitation
  • Shoulder
  • Sports medicine
  • Value

Investigators

TRIA Research Institute

TRIA is committed to advancing care through research. Their innovative studies range from improving surgical techniques to accelerating recovery. Details regarding TRIA research projects can be found on their website.

Key projects

The Scapula Institute

The Scapula Institute is a research and educational institute dedicated to the study of the scapula (shoulder blade) and fractures connected with it. Some of our surgeons are members of NASCon (North American Scapula Consortium). They are working with the Scapula Institute to improve patient care. We are seeing improved treatment protocols emerging now that research is focusing on patient-oriented outcomes. We have shown that there is a relationship between patients’ perception of shoulder deformity and clinical measurements after scapula fracture.

The Value Initiative

The Value Initiative is an orthopedic-focused group dedicated to optimizing and implementing value-based care. Value is crucial in the field of orthopedics as it has been estimated that orthopedic surgeons influence over half of health care costs. We believe that as an orthopedic group, we can work to increase value at our own institution, as well as assist other health care systems in determining the value of their care.

Masters Orthopedic Program

The Masters Orthopedic Program focuses on three important goals. The first is to provide the best care for older patients who have sustained a fracture. Second, to prevent another fracture once an initial fracture has been treated, through a service called Bone Health Clinic. And third, to provide geriatric orthopedic care to older patients living in nursing care facilities, through a service called Mobile Outreach. Areas of research focus include patient-centered outcomes, nutrition in hip fracture patients, cognition in hip fracture patients related to delirium, post-operative cognitive decline (POCD), and dementia.

Key publications