Clinical Trials

Dr. Cole and Rush University Medical Center are committed to providing patients with the full range of contemporary treatment options, including the latest minimally invasive procedures. Below is a brief description of a variety of ongoing research studies. If you would like more information about them, you can feel free to call the office or inquire about them at your next visit. All research studies have been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Rush University Medical Center. Involvement in any fashion is purely elective and patients will undergo a thorough informed consent process. Patient information is strictly confidential and will only be used for research purposes.

Cole Research Summary 2008
Summary of Ongoing Research Efforts
The Cartilage Restoration Center Core Laboratory and Clinical Research Program

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Prospective Study: For patients scheduled to have arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, we encourage you to participate in regularly scheduled follow-up visits (6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year). Your progress will be carefully monitored through self-assessment and physical examination. This procedure is relatively new, and the prospective studies may contribute to the management of this and related conditions.

Normal Shoulder Function

A survey is performed that includes subjective and objective data to quantify shoulder function. We believe that there are a few variables that may influence the outcome of the score, namely age, sex, and hand dominance. We are currently collecting data from patients with normal shoulders to create a database sufficient to describe normal shoulder function to better understand disease processes.

Platelet-Rich Plasma

Can Platelet-Rich Plasma Ease the Pain of Osteoarthritis?

CHICAGO—For years, doctors have used platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, to promote healing after surgery. Now, Rush University Medical Center is studying whether PRP can help relieve knee pain in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. PRP contains growth factors that promote cell proliferation and is prepared from the patient's own blood tissue. It has received popular attention because of its use in treating sports injuries in professional athletes, but the jury is still out on whether it is effective.

"There have been few controlled clinical trials, and results are inconsistent, but data so far suggests that it could be a promising treatment for healing in a variety of tissues," said Dr. Brian Cole, orthopaedic surgeon and head of the cartilage restoration center at Rush. "The therapy will not be a cure for osteoarthritis, but it could help put off the day when a patient will need to get a knee implant." At present, the standard of care is either corticosteroid injections, which may last about three months, or synthetic lubricants containing hyaluronic acid, which can last for up to a year.

In the double-blind, randomized, controlled study, 100 patients will receive either hyaluronic acid or PRP. The PRP is prepared from 10 millimeters of the patient's own blood. The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the red and white blood cells. The platelets are then injected into the knee joint using ultrasound imaging to guide placement.

Patients will receive three injections over three weeks, and will be monitored for two years receiving a clinical exam to assess pain and knee function. In addition, a teaspoon-size sample will be taken of the synovial fluid around the knee joint to test for molecular changes that may indicate a shift in the balance of anabolic factors that increase the buildup of tissue and catabolic factors that break it down. An imbalance in these factors has been implicated in the deterioration that leads to osteoarthritis.

For additional information, please contact the study's research coordinator Vasil Karas (312.432.2380 or email vasili.karas@gmail.com) or Dr. Brain Cole at bcole@rushortho.com.