More about the subject area of ​​orthopedics

Our focus areas in research

Orthopedics encompasses a wide range of subspecialties. Within orthopedic research, we have a particular focus on the following areas:

• Tendon and muscle injuries – A long tradition of research on Achilles tendon injuries and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, including randomized clinical trials, quality registry research, systematic literature reviews, and meta-analyses.

• Hip and knee replacement surgery – A long tradition of research in hip and knee arthroplasty, including the study of implant migration using radiostereometric analysis (RSA), evaluation of new implant designs, gait and movement analysis, and quality registry research. New methods for studying implant migration using computed tomography–based motion analysis (CTMA) are under development. There is also a strong focus on the diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic joint infections.

• Spinal disorders and injuries – Research in spine surgery focuses on areas such as investigating spinal injuries in young people and athletes, exploring the potential of stem cell therapy for degenerative conditions, evaluating new treatment methods, conducting registry-based analyses, developing new navigation techniques for spine surgery, assessing osseointegration and loosening of spinal implants using CTMA/IMA, biomedical studies of the spine, evaluation and follow-up of endoscopic spine surgery (Sahlgrenska University Hospital is the only hospital in Sweden using this surgical technique and conducting related research), and follow-up of scoliosis treatment using either bracing or a new surgical method known as vertebral body tethering.

• Arthroscopically treatable conditions – Nationally leading in the evaluation of hip arthroscopy for early hip disorders and in the development of arthroscopic procedures in the knee, shoulder, and ankle. Research includes radiological, clinical, and surgical studies of various athlete populations focusing on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), caused by cam and pincer morphology, and its correlation with back pain and injuries. Patients undergoing surgery for cam morphology are followed through a national quality registry.

• Orthopedic infections and infection prevention – Research focuses on operating room technology and ventilation, healthcare hygiene, and the diagnosis and treatment of implant-related infections.

• Fracture treatment – Extensive research is conducted in fracture care, based on data from the Swedish Fracture Register, covering epidemiology, treatment methods, and registry-based randomized studies.

• Cartilage injuries – New treatment methods for cartilage injuries, including cartilage cell transplantation and clinical tissue regeneration, are being developed and evaluated.

• Limb amputation injuries – Research, development, and clinical implementation of medical technologies and treatment methods aimed at restoring lost sensory and motor functions in individuals affected by limb amputation or nerve injuries. This also includes clinical follow-up of osseointegrated prosthetic limbs.