Case
New center to boost knowledge about knee osteoarthritis
Case
New center to boost knowledge about knee osteoarthritis
More than 150 million people around the world are affected by knee osteoarthritis. Even though there are a plethora of different treatment options, ranging from shoe inserts, over painkillers to surgery, the disease is difficult to treat with success. Nearly one in three patients who gets a knee replacement, is plagued by post-surgery difficulties. By developing personalized predictive computer models for the individual patient, the new Center for Mathematical Modelling of Knee Osteoarthritis (MathKOA) is aimed at changing this for the better, says the head of the new center, Professor Michael Skipper Andersen.
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There are many factors that contribute to the development of knee osteoarthritis. How it is most effectively treated for the individual patient, still remains an open research question. That is why we are developing a series of comprehensive mathematical models that include each individual’s physical appearance and pain perception, our biomechanical knowledge about bones, joints and tissue as well as the different treatment methods that we are familiar with today. In that way, we can simulate with a high degree of accuracy how the disease is going to develop and how different treatments will affect the patient.
Micheal Skipper
Knee transparent
Gait model
FEA simulation
Large potential
By including an array of different variables into the models, researchers in the new center will over time gain a deeper knowledge of how the disease develops and which factors affect it the most. At the same time, they strive to avoid failed treatments and surgeries that have no effect but cost the society billions in expenses for treatment and loss of income.
These expenses are increasing because more and more people are affected by knee osteoarthritis. Partly because of the demographical development, but also because knee osteoarthritis tends to affect people at a younger age. At the same time, one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by UN are focused on that we should remain healthy and active with a high quality-of-life for as long as possible.
- Many diseases challenge that goal, obviously, but knee osteoarthritis is one of the big ones, says Michael Skipper Andersen.
International center
Since knee osteoarthritis is such a big problem all over the world, there is a lot of interest in developing improved treatments – including the application of mathematical models. The Novo Nordisk Foundation [insert link] has donated nearly 50 million DKK into the center’s budget that totals nearly 60 million DKK over the coming six years.
Within the center, researchers from Aalborg University will be joined by colleagues from Lund Univeristy , University of Eastern Finland and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US as well as doctors from Aalborg University Hospital.
