Department

Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Our goal is to keep people mobile as long as possible by improving therapeutic interventions. We study risk factors and (molecular) processes of skeletal growth & development disorders, sport & traumatic injuries and osteoarthritis.

About our department

Our research

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a progressive and degenerative disease of the joints that causes impaired mobility and pain. It affects all joint tissues: cartilage, bone, synovium, tendons and ligaments. How these changes are orchestrated is not fully understood. We currently have no cure for osteoarthritis. At the end stage, joint replacement surgery is the main treatment option. By gaining more insight in osteoarthritis etiology, we aim to develop new treatments that can prevent the development of OA or delay the need for joint replacement surgery.

Sports & traumatic injuries

More and more patients are consulting sports physicians and orthopedic surgeons for injuries of cartilage, bone, tendon or ligaments due to trauma or sports. When these injuries are left untreated, there is a significant risk for the development of degenerative joint diseases. Our research focusses on the effectiveness of different treatment options and the development of new treatments to regenerate the damaged structures.

Skeletal growth and development

Changes in the joint shape and bone density in the developing joint are studied to relate observed joint changes to clinical symptoms, progression of the disease, environmental factors and genetic factors. To improve treatment, it is of importance to understand the processes that take place when the joint develops. Pathologies of the hip that occur in childhood and adolescence, such as dysplasia, CAM impingement, Perthes disease and slipped capital femoral epiphysis, have our special attention.

Principal Investigators

Head of Department: Mevr. Prof. dr. D. Eygendaal

Osteoarthritis
Basic research
Prof. dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch

Clinical research
Prof. dr. S.M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra
Prof.dr.ir. J. Harlaar

Prof.dr. J.B.J. van Meurs
Dr. M. Reijman
Dr. D.E. Meuffels
Dr. J. van Oldenrijk
Dr. J. Colaris

Skeletal growth and development
Basis research
Prof. dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch
Dr. R. Narcisi

Clinical research
Prof. dr. S.M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra
Dr. M. Reijman
Prof. dr. ir. J. Harlaar
Dr. R. Agricola

Sports- and traumatic injuries
Basic research
Prof. dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch
Dr. R. Narcisi

Clinical research
Prof. dr. S.M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra
Dr. M. Reijman
Prof. dr. ir. J. Harlaar
Dr. D.E. Meuffels
Dr. J. Colaris
Dr. R.J. de Vos
Dr. T. Piscaer

Research lines

Research Line "Osteoarthritis"

Study early phases of osteoarthritis to stop progression to chronic end-stage osteoarthritis or reverse this process
Improve the surgical and non-surgical treatment of OA
Develop new biological treatment methods
Develop methods for the early-stage recognition of OA

Research Line "Sport and Traumatic Injuries"

Determine risk factors for – and the long-term consequences of – sports injuries and trauma-related injuries
Improve surgical and non-surgical treatment options for sport and traumatic injuries
Improve and develop regenerative treatments for cartilage, bone and tendon/ligament injuries

Research Line "Skeletal Growth and Development"

Unravel the etiopathogenesis of joint development and the development of deformities during growth
Improve treatment choices for children with growth and developmental disorders

Projects

Beweegbord project

More information will follow

HAT-project

Research project: To study whether a high volume injection without corticosteroids improves clinical outcome in addition to usual care for adults with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.

IC-Move

Description will follow

IMPAcT-project

To develop a 'Mobility and Physical activity Telemonitoring System' and determine its (cost-) effectiveness

INSPIRE-project

To examine the effect of a multifactorial, online injury prevention programme on the number of running-related injuries (RRIs) in recreational runners.

JUMPER-project

Research project: To compare the effectiveness of progressive tendon-loading exercises (PTLE) with eccentric exercise therapy (EET) in patients with patellar tendinopathy.

Microfet2 Stabilizer project

Development of a stabillizer for the Microfet2, a hand-held dynamometer to measure accurately and reliable the force of quadriceps muscle. This project is in collaboration with Create4Care and the department of Medical Technology of the Erasmus MC

PATIO-project

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the optimized, treat-to-target PPT strategy in TKA and THA patients compared to usual PPT. The hypothesis is that with the optimized strategy superior functional outcome can be achieved to usual care, with lower costs (superiority study).

Rotate-project

Research towards individualized treatment recommendation in patients with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

SUSPECT-study

Patients with a clinically suspected scaphoid fracture and normal initial radiographs are treated with 2 weeks below-elbow cast. However, only 10% of these patients has eventually a scaphoid fracture. Therefore, we are treating most patients unnecessary.

Telefysio-Project

Telefysio is a long-term phased dynamic project to develop, implement and evaluate a digital physical therapy application to be used before, during, and after hospitalization.

Treatment of Achilles tendinopathy – a living systematic review and network meta-analysis

Research project: Evaluation of the comparative effectiveness of all available treatments for Achilles tendinopathy.

Doctoral theses

Doctoral thesis

Leijs, M. (2021, December). Intra-Articular Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis — The Next Step: Optimization of Therapeutic Capacity and Applicability. Prom/Coprom: Prof.dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch, Dr. M. Bernsen, Dr. P.K. Bos. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/137032

Eggerding, V. (2021, June). Optimal treatment for patients after anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Prom/Coprom: Prof.dr. S.M. Bierma-Zeinstra, Dr. M. Reijman, Dr. D.E. Meuffels. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/135515

van Klij, P. (2021, March 10). The development of the non-perfect hip in young athletes. Prom/Coprom: Prof.dr. J.A.N. Verhaar, Dr. R. Agricola.Repub P. van Klij, embargo

Vainieri, ML (2021, February 18). Towards Cartilage Regeneration: Biomaterial-Assisted Cell-Free Approach in a Physiological Joint-like Environment. Prom/Coprom: Prof.dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/131288

Van der Vlist, AC (2021, January 20) Achilles Tendinopathy: risk factors, imaging, and treatment. Prom/Coprom: Prof.dr. J.A.N. Verhaar, Dr. R.J. de Vos. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/133300

Fokkema, T. (2020, December 2). Prognosis and Prevention of Injuries in Recreational Runners. Prom/Coprom: Prof.dr.S.M. Bierma-Zeinstra, M. van Middelkoop, R.J. de Vos https://repub.eur.nl/pub/124642

Tolk, JJ (2020, June 2). Expectations and Outcome in Knee and Hip Arthroplasty. Prom/Coprom: S.M. Bierma-Zeinstra, M. Reijman, R.P.A. Janssen. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/127241

Eijgenraam SM (2020, January 22). The Meniscus Matters - Novel insights into imaging and treatment of meniscal pathology. Prom/coprom: Prof. S.M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra, Dr. E.H.G. Oei, Dr. M. Reijman en Dr. D.E. Meuffels https://repub.eur.nl/pub/120794

Suijkerbuijk MAM (2020, January 8) Hamstring Tendon Regeneration Following Harvest for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Prom/coprom: Prof.dr.G.J.V.M. van Osch, Dr. D.E. Meuffels, Dr. Y.M. Bastiaansen-Jenniskens https://repub.eur.nl/pub/121752

v Oldenrijk J. (2019, May 21) Short Incisions and Short Stems in Total Hip Arthroplasty. Prom/coprom: Prof.dr.C.N. van Dijk, dr. M.U. Schafroth, dr. R.W. Poolman https://www.orthopeden.org/downloads/654/proefschrift-jakob-van-oldenrijk.pdf?view=active

Fahmy-Garcia S. (2019, May 2019) Towards in situ bone tissue engineering : an injectable system for protein delivery. Prom/coprom: Prof.dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch, Prof. Dr.J.P.T.M. van Leeuwen, Dr. E. Farrell, Dr. M. van Driel https://repub.eur.nl/pub/116479

Mumcuoglu, Z. D. (2018, May 9). Development of an injectable slow release system for bone morphogenetic protein-2. Prom./coprom.: Prof. Dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch & S.G. Kluijtmans. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/105787

Pleumeekers, M. M. (2018, juni 29). Face it: Cell-based therapy for the reconstruction of cartilage defects in the head and neck area. Prom./coprom.: Prof. Dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch & KS Stok. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/105992

Utomo, L. (2018, september 18). Macrophage Phenotypes in Degenerative Joint Diseases. Prom./coprom.: Prof. Dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch, Prof. Dr. J.A.N. Verhaar & Dr. Y.M. Bastiaansen-Jenniskens. https://repub.eur.nl/pub/106448

Boersema, G.S.A. (2017, September 13). Major Abdominal Surgical Complications : Innovative Approaches. Supervisor(s): Prof. Dr. J.F. Lange, Prof. Dr. G.J. Kleinrensink, Dr. Y.M. Bastiaansen-Jenniskens & Prof.Dr. J. Jeekel. - https://repub.eur.nl/pub/100857

Dorleijn, D.M.J. (2017, January 25). Hip Osteoarthritis : symptomatic presentation and non-operative treatment. Supervisor(s): Prof. Dr. S.M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra, Dr. P.A.J. Luijsterburg & Dr. P.K. Bos. - https://epubs.ogc.nl/?epub=d.dorleijn%20(Metis)

Grotenhuis, N. (2017, October 11). New Models for Patient-specific Evaluation of the Effect of Biomaterials on Macrophages. Supervisor(s): Prof. Dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch, Prof. Dr. J.F. Lange & Dr. Y.M. Bastiaansen-Jenniskens. - https://repub.eur.nl/pub/101852

Vos, BC de (2017, February 7). Battling Obesity : Efforts in preventing knee osteoarthritis. Supervisor(s): Prof. Dr. S.M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra & Dr. J. Runhaar. - https://repub.eur.nl/pub/95488

Wei, W. (2017, October 20). Adipose tissue and the knee? : role of inflammation on joint degeneration and cartilage repair. Supervisor(s): Prof. Dr. G.J.V.M. van Osch, Prof. Dr. J.A.N. Verhaar & Dr. Y.M. Bastiaansen-Jenniskens. - https://repub.eur.nl/pub/102357

Windt, A.E. van der (2017, March 29). Calcineurin Inhibition at Physiological Osmolarity: Toward improving cartilage regeneration. EUR (209 pag.) Supervisor(s): Prof. Dr. Ir. H.H. Weinans & Prof. Dr. J.A.N. Verhaar. - https://repub.eur.nl/pub/98466

Kroon, L. de (2017, October 23). A dive into TGHß signaling components during generation and degeneration of cartilage. Supervisors; van der Kraam PM, Van Osch GJVM, Narcisi R, Blaney Davidson N. - No link available

Connective Tissue Repair Lab

News, events and awards

Education

Postdoc Researchers

Niamh Fahy

Shorouk Fahmy Garcia (hospitality agreement)

Kavitha Sivasubramaniyan (hospitality agreement)

PhD students

Basic research

Mauricio Ferrao Blanco
Sohrab Khatab
Maarten Leijs
Chantal Voskamp
Tim Wesdorp
Jietao Xu

Clinical research

Britt Barvelink
Fleur Boel
Joshua Bonsel
Michiel van Buuren
Delong Chen
Abigail Cohen
Eline van Es
Sabine van der Graaff
Lichelle Groot
Mark van Outeren
Jinchi Tang
Joost Verschueren
Floris de Vos
Annika Willems