Latest News
Join us for the 2027 QORF Collaborative MSK Research Meeting
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When: Friday 19 - Saturday 20 March 2027
Where: Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD
Theme: 'AI and Technology in MSK Research'
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QORF Strategic Plan 2026-28
QORF is pleased to present the QORF Strategic Plan 2026-28 Snapshot.
Read More >Read the 2024 QORF Annual Report
The 2024 QORF Annual Report is now available. Thank you to all for a rewarding and productive year. We look forward to continued growth and to further developing Queensland into a musculoskeletal research hub.
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Topical antibiotics in ankle fracture surgery (TAAFS) study
Grant Menegon
Training Registrar
Cairns Hospital/Townsville Hospital/RBWH
The topical antibiotics in ankle fracture surgery (TAAFS) pilot study is a multi-centre, prospective, double-blinded, placebo control, randomized controlled trial comparing standard surgical fixation of ankle fractures with and without local topical antibiotics administered at the time of wound closure. The aims of this pilot study include determining the prevalence of both deep and superficial surgical site infection (SSI) according to the centre for disease control and prevention (CDC) definition as well as fracture related infection definition.
The Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Cairns Hospital and The Townsville University Hospital are the 3 pilot sites. The sample size for this pilot study will consist of 332 patients, spread across the 3 sites. The authors thank the Queensland Orthopaedic Research Fund for funding this pilot study and making this research idea possible.
Read More >The Spectrum of Infective Organisms in Orthopaedic Surgery in Queensland – Geographic and Temporal Trends
Luke Visscher
PHO
Redcliffe Hospital, Queensland, Australia
This is a large-scale data collection and linkage project, that seeks to collect information about all procedures for infected hip, knee and shoulder arthroplasty and microbiology results in Queensland across all orthopaedic hospitals.
The study design has been finalised and ethics approval based on that plan has been approved, and revised a number of times. The researchers have been working closely with the clinical excellence team on validating a method for data analysis and state wide collection in the back end of QLD health data silos. This has proven possible, although there have been some difficulty in prioritising software tweaks that would optimise the process. Given the scale of the project across all QLD hospitals, and the need for data export from state wide databases, the approval of 4 executive directors is required before progression to SSA and public health approval. The approval process for such a large scale study is rigorous. We are at the stage now where the method has been proven possible to execute, and are awaiting final approval before PHA submission. It has been shown that the method for the study is possible, and we should be able to rapidly progress once the final approval has been given. We look forward to gathering this data and presenting it at future local meetings.
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Immediate joint infection diagnosis using bed-side iPhone live imaging
Sebastien Stephens
PHO
Gold Coast University Hospital
Joint infections are morbid, costly and most importantly, difficult to diagnose especially in the rural/remote general practice setting. We propose a system of simple optical beads attached to an iPhone to immediately identify live bacteria with a single drop of joint aspirate.
We developed a cleanable, pocket-size device which permits to see microorganisms immediately. Testing has proven robust with video footage showing live bacteria with the iPhone set to video mode. However, the device has limitations with resolution and autofluorescence. Thus, we are still in the process of establishing sensitivity and specificity of the device in the lab environment. With basic/optical science hurdles ironed out, we will continue to, as planned, into the human pilot trial.
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Negative Pressure Neurogenesis 2: A novel approach to accelerate nerve regeneration after complete peripheral nerve transection
Tamer Mettyas
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia
Various modalities to facilitate nerve regeneration have been described with limited success. We hypothesised that negative pressure applied to a sectioned peripheral nerve would enhance nerve regeneration by promoting angiogenesis and axonal lengthening. Negative pressure was found to stimulate nerve lengthening and angiogenesis within an in vivo rat model. Low negative pressure (10 mmHg) provided superior results over the higher pressure groups and the control, favouring axonal growth.
Read More >Outcomes of the Latarjet Procedure With and Without Capsular Repair
Andrew McBride
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Gold Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia
Outcomes of the latarjet procedure with and without capsular repair is a multi-centered study that examines the clinical and radiological outcomes of the latarjet procedure comparing patients that have and have not had a capsular repair as part of that procedure.
Its primary outcome is range of motion however it also examines proprioception and a number of validated outcome scores.
Read More >Mid-term Outcomes of Pyrocarbon Humeral Resurfacing Arthroplasty
Andrew McBride
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Gold Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia
Mid-term outcomes of pyrocarbon resurfacing arthroplasty is a joint registry project that examines the survivorship of pyrocarbon resurfacing hemiarthroplasty in the shoulder compared to other classes of shoulder arthroplasty from data collected by the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.
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