Creating distraction at the knee joint: a treatment option for osteoarthritis

Project Overview

Our client, Kim Skinner, is a practicing physical therapist at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin. She treats many patients who suffer from knee osteoarthritis and she also suffers from symptoms herself. It is a painful and degenerative disease that is caused by the deterioration of the articulate cartilage in the knee, causing a narrowed joint space [1]. Recent studies have shown that joint distraction (the forced separation of the two bony ends of a joint) increases cartilage thickness, decreases denuded bone area, decreases pain, and improves functional ability [1]. Mrs. Skinner has asked our group to create an at-home system for joint distraction on the knee in hopes of prolonging, or even eliminating, the need for knee replacement surgery. Our team has designed a device which utilizes the natural force of gravity, as well as an air pump system to distract the knee joint, relieving pressure and stress on the joint. Upon completion of testing, we are hopeful that this design will provide an alternative treatment for knee osteoarthritis, and eventually prolong the life of the knee.

[1] Interna F., Van Roermund PM, Marijnissen ACA, et al. Tissue structure modification in knee osteoarthritis by use of joint distraction: an open 1-year pilot study. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (May, 2011).