Orthopaedic Basic Science Course

The ORS Orthopaedic Basic Science Course will explain the science behind the decisions, treatments and procedures that are performed in practice every day. Understanding the science behind clinical decisions is important as we strive to improve patient care.

The course consists of learning modules totaling over 7 hours of learning
Each individual lecture is approximately 15 – 30 minutes in length
This course offers pre-assessment and post-assessments

Faculty

The program is taught by expert and multi-disciplinary faculty. All proud members of the ORS.

Who would benefit from this course?

This program is ideal for surgeons, basic scientists, and engineers of all career levels and disciplines within the orthopaedic field.

Course Curriculum

Principles of Orthopaedic Surgery Basic Science: Molecular and Cellular Biology

Tamara Alliston, PhD
University of California, San Francisco
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
San Francisco, California (USA)

Learning Objectives:

To understand signaling pathways important for musculoskeletal development and how they might be employed to elucidate mechanisms that cause musculoskeletal disease or to develop new therapies.
To understand the role of lineage-specific transcription factors in directing musculoskeletal cell differentiation.
To understand mechanisms controlling bone remodeling by osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes to maintain mineral and homeostasis.

Principles of Orthopaedic Surgery Basic Science: Musculoskeletal Development and Genetic Diseases

Elizabeth W. Bradley, PhD
Associate Consultant I –Research
Dept. of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota USA

Learning Objectives:

To provide an introduction to skeletal development.
To understand the processes of intramembranous and endochondral ossification.
To provide examples of genetic diseases that compromise the skeleton

Principles of Tissue Engineering in Orthopaedics

Chelsea S. Bahney, PhD
Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI)
Center for Regenerative Medicine
Vail, Colorado USA
University of California, San Francisco
Orthopaedic Trauma Institute
San Francisco, California USA

Learning Objectives:

Understand the basic design components of a tissue engineered system
Define therapeutic potential and associated risks of candidate cell sources in regenerative medicine
The potential of cell free biomaterials as an off the shelf product for orthopedic applications
Describe strategies to functionalizing scaffolds to enhance biological function
How to harness developmental cues to drive improved regeneration in the engineered tissue

Principles of Biomechanics: Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Tissues

Marjolein van der Meulen, PhD
James M. & Marsha McCormick Director
Swanson Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Nancy E. & Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering
Sibley School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Cornell University
Senior Scientist, Biomechanics

Learning Objectives:

To understand the behavior of a structure when subjected to loading
To understand the difference between loading of a structure versus a material
To be familiar with factors that influence the behavior of materials when loaded

Principles of Orthopaedic Surgery Basic Science: Orthopaedic Biomaterials

Kenneth A. Mann, PhD
Professor, Orthopedic Surgery; Cell and Developmental Biology; Radiation Oncology
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, New York USA

Learning Objectives:

To understand and appreciate the vast range of biomaterials used in orthopaedic practice in terms of mechanical properties such as strength, modulus, fatigue and wear resistance, and biocompatibility.
To understand the importance of material processing in the resultant mechanical and material behavior of biomaterials.

Tendon (and Ligament) Biomechanics

Jess G. Snedeker, PhD
Associate Professor
Dept. of Orthopedics, University of Zurich
Institute for Biomechanics
Switzerland

Learning Objectives:

To understand the functional implications (tradeoffs) that increased tendon stiffness has on (decreased) injury resistance vs. increased athletic performance.
To understand how organ tissues are optimally structured to balance these two functional demands.

Musculoskeletal Tissue Physiology and Function: Nerve and Muscle Structure and Function

Richard L. Lieber, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois USA

Learning Objectives:

To understand basic nerve and skeletal muscle anatomy.
To understand the physiological function of nerves and muscles.
To be able to define the stages of muscle injury and repair.
To understand the physiological mechanism of action of a popular injectable.

Musculoskeletal Tissue Physiology and Function: Articular Cartilage: Form & Function

Suzanne A. Maher, PhD
Scientist
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, New York USA

Learning Objectives:

To learn the structure-function of hyaline cartilage
To learn how cartilage changes with degeneration

Meniscus Structure and Function

Amy L. McNulty, PhD
Duke University School of Medicine
Orthopaedic Surgery
Durham, North Carolina USA

Learning Objectives:

To understand the structure and composition of the meniscus
To understand the function of the meniscus in the joint
To identify joint changes that occur following meniscus injury

Musculoskeletal Tissue Physiology and Function: Bone

Karl J. Jepsen, PhD
Henry Ruppenthal Family Professor
Department of Orthopaedics
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan USA

Learning Objectives:

To understand mechanical principles in the context of bone mechanical function.
To understand the cellular processes involved in establishing a mechanically functional bone.
To understand what makes a bone strong but light.

Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology: Bone Injury, Regeneration and Repair

Ralph S. Marcucio, PhD
Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, California USA

Learning Objectives:

To understand the time course of the events occurring during bone fracture healing.
To understand the source of progenitor cells during bone fracture healing.
To observe some common problems affecting patients and some general approaches
at solution.

Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology: Molecular Basis of Cancer

Lor Randall, MD, FACS
Director of Sarcoma Services
Huntsman Cancer Institute
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah USA

Learning Objectives:

Appreciate the clinically relevant basic science principles in Oncology.
Appreciate the pathophysiology of some common MSK tumors.

Basic Science Principles: Inflammation in the Musculoskeletal System

Regis J. O’Keefe, MD, PhD
Fred C. Reynolds Professor and Chair
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Washington University School of Medicine
Saint Louis, Missouri USA

Learning Objectives:

To understand the role of different cell populations, including macrophages, B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes and their regulation of the immune response.
To understand the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease of the musculoskeletal system.
To understand how inflammatory cytokines are targeted by therapies to treat autoimmune disease.

Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology: Venous Thromboembolic Disease and The Fat Embolism Syndrome

Vincent D. Pellegrini, Jr., MD
Professor and Vice Chair for Eduation and Research Affairs Dartmouth-Hitchcock / Geisel School of Medicine Dartmouth
Lebanon, New Hampshire USA

Learning Objectives:

To understand the pathophysiology of venous thromboembolic disease as a complication of orthopaedic
disease and related surgical procedures.
To understand the pathophysiology of the fat embolism syndrome as a complication of musculoskeletal injury and related surgical procedures.
To understand the scientific basis of treatment of venous thromboembolic disease and the fat embolism syndrome as potential complications of orthopaedic disease and related surgical procedures

Staphylococcus aureus Invasion of the Osteocyte Lacuno-Canalicular Network (OLCN)

Edward M. Schwarz, PhD
Burton Professor of Orthopaedics and Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Research
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, New York USA

Learning Objectives:

To understand the three distinct biofilms that form during the establishment of S. aureus implant-associated osteomyelitis
To understand how S. aureus transitions from planktonic to biofilm bacteria during bone infection
To understand how S. aureus in biofilm become resistant to systemic and local antibiotic treatments

PRP Treatment of Tissue Injuries in Orthopaedics

James H-C. Wang, PhD
Professor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA

Learning Objectives:

To gain a basic knowledge of PRP and its applications in orthopaedics/sports medicine
To understand the advances and barriers of current PRP application in the treatment of tendon injury

Implant Wear and Inflammatory Response

Darryl D’Lima, MD
Professor of Molecular Medicine
Department of Molecular Medicine
Scripps Research
La Jolla, California USA

Learning Objectives:

To be familiar with the past and present significance of implant wear
To identify important factors that modulate the intensity of the biological response
To understand the histopathologic features of the different responses to wear debris