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Upper Extremity Biomechanics

Biomechanical Evaluation of Ulnar Carpal Impaction:

(Inv: Harley, Werner) Ulnar Impaction is a disorder in which the distal ulna impacts against the carpal bones causing ulnar sided wrist pain, tenderness and often decreased grip strength. To determine which factors cause excessive ulnar loading, a dynamic biomechanical cadaver model is being used to measure load transfer across the wrist joint.

Causes and Treatments of Wrist Instability:

(Inv: Short, Werner) Our long term goal is to understand the role of soft tissue structures in stabilizing the wrist joint and to optimize surgical treatments. Using a wrist joint motion simulator, changes in scaphoid and lunate kinematics are measured and animated to differentiate between the roles of various structures and repairs. (National Institutes of Health)

Salvage Procedures for Degenerative Arthritis of the Wrist:

(Inv: Nanavati, Setter, Werner)  Severe degenerative arthritis of the wrist may require wrist fusion.  Alternative surgical procedures are being biomechanically investigated.

Shoulder Biomechanics:

(Inv: Setter, Nanavati, Werner)  The stability of an anatomic repair of the shoulder joint and modifications of total shoulder arthroplasty are being biomechanically tested.