Publications by authors named "T P Schaer"
Intervertebral disc degeneration is commonly associated with back and neck pain, and standard surgical treatments do not restore spine function. Replacement of the degenerative disc with a living, tissue-engineered construct has the potential to restore normal structure and function to the spine. Toward this goal, our group developed endplate-modified disc-like angle-ply structures (eDAPS) that recapitulate the native structure and function of the disc.
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- - This study examined the effects of removing the medial meniscus anterior attachment in Yucatan minipigs, comparing outcomes between an injury group and a repair group, with the contralateral knee serving as an intact control.
- - Findings revealed significant meniscus extrusion following injury, with measurements showing a decrease over time but still higher than the intact condition; attachment tensile testing showed increased elongation after injury that partially improved after 6 months.
- - The results indicated that meniscus injury leads to cartilage wear over time, emphasizing the importance of understanding the meniscus's role and material properties during joint injury and repair for overall joint health.
Reversible adhesives for wound care improve patient experiences by permitting reuse and minimizing further tissue injury. Existing reversible bandages are vulnerable to water and can undergo unwanted deformation during removal and readdressing procedures. Here, a biocompatible, multilayered, reversible wound dressing film that conforms to skin and is waterproof is designed.
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- Joint kinematic instability, whether congenital or due to other health factors, leads to cartilage damage and progression to osteoarthritis (OA), which affects joint function.
- OA reduces the effectiveness of synovial fluid lubrication, primarily due to the loss of important components like hyaluronic acid.
- Viscosupplementation and advanced biomimetic strategies are being explored to improve joint lubrication and minimize cartilage wear, though results vary and effectiveness can be limited.
Background: Cadaveric intervertebral discs are often studied for a variety of research questions, and outcomes are interpreted in the in vivo context. Unfortunately, the cadaveric disc does not inherently represent the LIVE condition, such that the disc structure (geometry), composition (T2 relaxation time), and mechanical function (opening pressure, OP) measured in the cadaver do not necessarily represent the in vivo disc.
Methods: We conducted serial evaluations in the Yucatan minipig of disc geometry, T2 relaxation time, and OP to quantify the changes that occur with progressive dissection and used axial loading to restore the in vivo condition.