Biomechanics Laboratory
Group leader
Research profile and aims:
Biomechanics lab at the Department for Research and Development, Oslo University Hospital Orthopaedic Clinic, functions as a service-unit and contributes as a facilitator/catalysator for accomplishment of various research projects within the orthopaedic community in the Oslo region. The laboratory was established back in the 1960’ies as a joint venture between Sophies Minde National Orthopaedic Hospital and the University of Oslo with 1.5 full time employees: One orthopaedic surgeon (50%) employed by the Hospital, and one Engineer (100%) employed by the University of Oslo.
The laboratory previously organized the meetings of the ‘Biomechanics Forum’ 2-3 times a year during the periods 1996-2002 and 2013-2017, with a total of 31 meetings. ‘Biomechanics Forum’ was a multidisciplinary discussion group of professionals and students. The plan was to establish a new national forum called the ‘Norwegian Biomechanics Society’ (NBS) consistent with similar existing national societies in Denmark and Sweden, and with a future expectation of making a common Scandinavian Biomechanics Society. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the inauguration of the NSB has been postponed in 2020 and 2021.
The laboratory is furnished with technological equipment for mechanical and functional testing, and participates in planning, execution, analyses, and publishing of clinical and experimental studies.
Biomechanics lab was granted 1.37 mill NOK from the Hospital’s Investment budget 2019 for upgrading of our mechanical testing machine (MTS, MiniBionix 858), located at the Institute for Surgical Research. The new equipment will be a high-speed digital image video camera with integrated 3D motion analysis for detailed documentation of the deformation process within the test object during mechanical testing. The procurement process started in September 2019, but was put on hold for an indefinite time in 2021 because of the ongoing pandemic.
In daily clinical activity the Biomechanics lab has been part of the Paediatric Orthopaedics and Reconstructive Surgery Section at Rikshospitalet, mainly contributing with preoperative assessment of patients with limb length discrepancy and other deformities, and monitoring of patients operated with distraction osteogenesis/callotasis by use of external fixators or operated with epiphysiodesis.