The Plastic Surgery Foundation
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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.

Altering Tendon Biomechanics after Flexor Tendon Repair

Principal Investigator
Samuel Buonocore MD

Year
2011

Institution
Yale University

Funding Mechanism


Focus Area


Abstract
Specific Aims: To study conditions which may favorably alter tendon biomechanics. Our preliminary data has shown that release of the A1 pulley at the time of tendon repair decreases forces across tendons, compared to repaired tendons without alteration of the pulley system. Techniques performed at the time of tendon repair (including A1 pulley release) may decrease the forces across tendons in the postoperative period, allowing more aggressive rehabilitation protocols, and decreasing rupture rates. Research Methods: Cadaveric hands with the distal forearm intact will be obtained, flexor tendons will be dissected in the forearm, the hands will placed in a tensile testing machine, force excursion curves will be generated for various testing conditions. Force excursion data is then used to calculate work of flexion, which is an extremely sensitive method of quantifying all forces that resist tendon gliding. Testing conditions will include but not be limited to, 1. uninjured tendon with A1 pulley intact, 2. uninjured tendon with A1 pulley divided, 3. profundus tendons lacerated and repaired with A1 pulley intact, 4. profundus & superficialis tendons injured and repaired with A1 pulley intact, 5. injured & repaired tendons (including both profundus and superficialis) with partial release of A1 pulley, injured and repaired tendons (including both profundus and superficialis) with complete release of A1 pulley. Loads will be applied to the tendons to simulate passive & active motion protocols. The clinical impact of this study is significant because release of the A1 pulley at the time of tendon repair would be a simple, low cost, maneuver which can be employed by hand surgeons to improve outcomes and avoid rupture postoperatively.