The Plastic Surgery Foundation
Log In Donate Now
 

Grants We Funded

Grant applicants for the 2023 cycle requested a total of nearly $4 million dollars. The PSF Study Section Subcommittees of Basic & Translational Research and Clinical Research evaluated nearly 140 grant applications on the following topics:

The PSF awarded research grants totaling over $1 million dollars to support nearly 30 plastic surgery research proposals.

ASPS/PSF leadership is committed to continuing to provide high levels of investigator-initiated research support to ensure that plastic surgeons have the needed research resources to be pioneers and innovators in advancing the practice of medicine.

Research Abstracts

Search The PSF database to have easy access to full-text grant abstracts from past PSF-funded research projects 2003 to present. All abstracts are the work of the Principal Investigators and were retrieved from their PSF grant applications. Several different filters may be applied to locate abstracts specific to a particular focus area or PSF funding mechanism.

Partial Wrist Arthrodesis vs MFT Scaphoid Reconstruction: Wrist Kinematics

Principal Investigator
Sonya Agnew MD

Year
2017

Institution
Chicago Association for Research & Education in Science

Funding Mechanism
AAHS/PSF Research Grant

Focus Area
Hand or Upper Extremity, Microsurgery

Abstract
The scaphoid is the most frequently fractured carpal bone. Given its retrograde blood supply, the proximal pole of the scaphoid is at higher risk of nonunion and avascular necrosis (AVN), ultimately resulting in a well-described pattern of wrist arthritis. Surgical intervention prior to the development of advanced arthritis is important, particularly in young, active patients.
Treatment options for AVN of the proximal pole include scaphoidectomy with 4 corner arthrodesis, and, gaining recent popularity, proximal scaphoid reconstruction with the medial femoral trochlea (MFT) graft. The former procedure is a historically favored method to treat collapse of the proximal pole of the scaphoid in younger patients, the disadvantage being loss of normal carpal kinematics that results after the scaphoid is removed and the midcarpal joint is fused. Conversely, reconstruction with the MFT graft preserves the scaphoid and thus theoretically maintains normal intercarpal kinematics. The drawback for this procedure is the potential donor site morbidity and the need for microsurgery. Direct comparison of functional wrist motion after these two surgical procedures has not been reported.

The objective of this study is to directly compare wrist motion following two accepted surgical procedures for patients with scaphoid nonunion and proximal pole avascular necrosis. Wrist kinematics following scaphoidectomy and 4 corner arthrodesis vs. scaphoid reconstruction with the medial femoral trochlea graft will be directly compared using a previously published cadaveric optoelectronic wrist motion simulator at the Hines VA musculoskeletal biomechanics laboratory. Dynamic CT reconstruction will then illustrate the path of flexion, extension and dart thrower's motion.

The ultimate goal of this project is to provide patients with tangible evidence for expected functional results after both procedures, on which they can base their treatment selection.

Biography
Dr. Agnew specializes in treating general hand and wrist problems. Her clinical and research interests include hand and wrist trauma and arthritis of the hand and wrist. Dr. Agnew received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She also completed her residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and her fellowship in hand surgery at the University of Washington. She is a board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has received her Certificate of Subspecialty of Surgery of the Hand. Dr. Agnew is currently an assistant professor at Loyola University Medical Center and is Section Chief of Plastic Surgery at Hines VAMC in Maywood, IL.