Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2009

Mentor: Michael J. Bolesta, M.D.
Department: Orthopaedic Surgery
Room number: WA4.328
Mail Code: 8883
Phone number: 214-645-3348
E-mail: michael.bolesta@utsouthwestern.edu

Project title #1: Clinical and Radiographic Analysis of PEEK/ChronOS Implants

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 082007-027

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Project Type: patient-based research

Brief Description of Project:

Patients who have had one to two levels ACDF using PEEK, ChronOs, and pelvic bone marrow transplant at least twelve months ago by one of the investigators will be identified. They will be contacted by telephone or mail for recruitment to the study. The SF-36 general health questionnaire and the NDI (neck disability index, specific to cervical problems) will be given to those who agree to participate. Each subject will be asked to return for examination and standard radiographs if they have not been seen at least 12 months after surgery. The radiographs (anteroposterior and lateral) will be blindly reviewed (deidentified) by two surgeons who did not perform the operation and by a radiologist. Each will be rated as bony fusion, fibrous union, or indeterminate. To be called a bony fusion, all implant interfaces must be intact and there cannot be implant failure. A fibrous union will be defined as lucencies about implants, implant failures, or collapse into kyphosis.

Project # 2:

Project title: Incidence and Prevalence of Dysphagia in Anterior Cervical Surgery for Degenerative Disease: A Retrospective Review

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 062008-045

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Project Type: patient-based research

Brief Description of Project:

This study will consist of a retrospective chart review, follow-up questionnaires and telephone surveys from ACDF and lumbar patients to assess the incidence, prevalence and severity of post-operative dysphagia. The Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ) will be used to determine the prescence and severity of dysphagia in study subjects after surgery. Incidence of dysphagia will be assessed as a percentage of the sampled patients. Comparisons will be made to the control group, which is expected to have little to no incidence of dysphagia. Data detailing patient characteristics, such as age and sex, will be collected to determine possible risk factors. A maximum of 50 local subjects will be consented. Equal number of age and sex matched control subjects will be consented. Charts and records of subjects who have given consent will be used, therefore, a maximum of 50 will be reviewed. Maximum of 100 total subjects will be included (50 subjects & 50 controls). Study will conclude within one year. Since this is a retrospective study, research personnel did not obtain patient consent to be contacted at the time of the surgical procedure. Initial contact must be made by phone to determine consent.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

A comparison of film and computer workstation measurements of degenerative spondylolisthesis: intra-observer and inter-observer reliability, submitted to journal Spine, work done with Lauren Winslow, class 2010

Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis at the Parkland Health and Hospital System, poster at student research day 2009, work done with Michael Mathews, class of 2011