Knee surgery Research

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The Exeter Knee Reconstruction Unit is an Academic Unit led by Professor Andrew Toms. 

The team have published over 50 peer reviewed journal articles over the past ten years. 

Professor Toms and the academic team in EKRU are currently leading a Priority Setting Partnership with the James Lind Alliance and the British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK). This project aims to identify the most important questions in order to focus our research on what matters the most.

We also host a Patient Research Panel that meet regularly and review our research to ensure that it remains patient focused and relevant to our patients. If you would like to be part of our Patient Panel, please contact our research coordinator Patrick on p.hourigan@nhs.net.

EKRU are currently involved in the following research studies, many of which are randomised controlled studies:  

Knee replacement and revision surgery

• The UNITY study- a prospective single centre clinical outcome study (RCT)
• The IMPLANT study-to determine the cause of failure of orthopaedic implants using multi-disciplinary analysis of data from patients who have undergone revision TKR.
• The SHAKeN study-Does sonication in addition to standard diagnostic techniques, give us an accurate tool for reliable and sufficient detection for pathogens during revision joint replacement
• The SMART spacer study-does the use of a spacer containing silver help treat prosthetic joint infection.
• The Alternative alignment study-A prospective, randomised, controlled study of the outcomes and cost effectiveness of Triathlon CR knee replacement system: Traditional philosophy versus alternative alignment philosophy (RCT).
• The Cones Study-A Prospective, Randomised Internal Pilot Study Investigating the Use of Metaphyseal Cones versus a Cemented Stem Construct in Revision Total Knee Replacement in Patients with AORI Grade 2 Defects- a Comparison of Clinical, Functional and Radiological Outcome (RCT).
• The LIFT study-Plain spinal & local anaesthetic infiltration vs Plain spinal & femoral nerve block in TKR (RCT).
• The STAR study-support and treatment after joint replacement (RCT).

Soft tissue and ligament surgery

• The RAF study- a comparison of flexible versus rigid reamers in preparing the femoral tunnel in ACL reconstruction (RCT).
• The GAP study-A Prospective, Randomised Study Investigating the use of a Fixed Loop versus an Adjustable Suspensory Loop in ACL Reconstruction - a Comparison of Clinical and Functional Outcome (RCT).