Current NY Orthopedics Research

Current Research Projects at New York Orthopedics

The following studies studies are open to all patients of Drs Nicholas, Bedford, Lee and Mendez but patients seeing other NY Orthopedics physicians may be eligible as well.

Surgical Outcomes (SOS) Long Term Surveys Study
  • The purpose of this research study is to collect baseline characteristics of patients undergoing orthopaedic and sports medicine, arthroscopy, and related surgery, and the subsequent outcomes associated with the surgical procedures in order to develop evidence based protocols for the best methods for treating patients with different conditions.
  • This study aims to allow your physician to better review the progress of your treatment and recovery between scheduled follow up visits.
  • To be eligible to participate in this study you must:
    • Be a legal adult (eighteen (18) years of age or older) 
    • Be scheduled for a surgery involving one of the following: elbow, foot or ankle, hand or wrist, hip arthroplasty, hip arthroscopy, knee arthroplasty, knee arthroscopy, shoulder arthroplasty, shoulder arthroscopy 
Total Knee Arthroplasty Registry: Ambulatory vs. Inpatient Care
  • The purpose of this research study is to determine if ambulatory care or inpatient care is more beneficial for a patient receiving a total knee arthroplasty.
  • This study aims to investigate if young and healthy patients undergoing total knee replacements have better outcomes in ambulatory settings compared to in-patient. We will analyze patients with no comorbidities.
  • To be eligible to participate in this study you must:
    • Be a legal adult (eighteen (18) years of age or older) 
    • Cannot satisfy any of the following:
      • Workman’s compensation case
      • Previous distal femoral or proximal tibial osteotomy including tibial tubercle osteotomy procedure
      • Pre-existing hardware that requires removal except cruciate ligament hardware
      • BMI > 40
      • Varus/Valgus deformity > 15 degrees from mechanical axis
      • Blood supply limitations and previous knee infections, which may retard healingForeign body sensitivity
      • Conditions that tend to limit the subject’s ability or willingness to restrict activities or follow directions during the healing period
      • Concomitant procedure with UKA
      • Standard Poly w/ UKA

For this study patients will need to get additional x-rays pre-operatively and 3 months post surgery (that may not be fully covered through their insurance depending on which imaging center they choose to go to and they will need to confirm this for themselves). These x-rays specifically include:

  • Pre-op: Long Limb Standing + merchant
  • 3 month: Long Limb Standing + merchant
  • 2yr, 5yr, 10yr, 15yr: Short view AP/Lateral + merchant (standard in office – not an extra x-ray)
Total Knee Registry Gait Study
  • The purpose of this research study is to examine gait in Arthrex total knee replacement (TKR) in patients presenting with varus deformity.
  • This study aims to investigate the Arthrex varus total knee replacement post-operatively to provide an analysis of gait progression, which includes knee adduction moment and dynamic frontal knee plane angle. Inclusion criteria will be based on static alignment x-rays on initial exam, with greater than 0 degrees varus.
  • To be eligible to participate in this study you must:
    • Be a legal adult (eighteen (18) years of age or older) 
    • Cannot satisfy any of the following:
      • Workman’s compensation case
      • Previous distal femoral or proximal tibial osteotomy including tibial tubercle osteotomy procedure
      • Pre-existing hardware that requires removal except cruciate ligament hardware
      • BMI > 35
      • Static Knee alignment of < 0 varus
      • Blood supply limitations and previous knee infections, which may retard healingForeign body sensitivity
      • Conditions that tend to limit the subject’s ability or willingness to restrict activities or follow directions during the healing period
      • Concomitant procedure with UKA
      • Standard Poly w/ UKA
      • Any neurological conditions that may affect gait (e.g. Parkinson’s)

For this study patients will need to get additional gait testing using 3-dimensional motion capture at The Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma (NISMAT), located at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, 5th Floor 210 E 64th St New York, New York 10065. The gait testing would occur at Pre-op, 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, and 2 years.

Also, importantly, patients receiving a total joint replacement are encouraged to attend the total joint replacement pre-op class offered for free at Lenox Hill Hospital on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:00pm. Ideally, for anyone interested in participating in the gait or total knee registry studies, we recommend that they schedule their gait analysis or the long limb standing + merchant x-rays on the same day as the pre-op class at Lenox Hill. Ideally before the class between the hours of 9am-1pm.