Rationale of CIRRO

Musculoskeletal diseases constitute a large burden for the health-care system, the society and for each individual patient. With an elderly population (>67 years) increasing by 50% until 2030, and an obesity epidemic, this burden will increase and there is need to develop more effective and better preventive and treatment methods. In musculoskeletal research precise evaluation methods is a prerequisite to reach these goals.

Clinical research is compared to basic research, often dependent on imprecise methods. The number of patients needed to demonstrate a difference between two treatment methods is therefore large. In musculoskeletal research common methods like plain radiographs are imprecise for detecting healing of bone, loss of bone (osteoporosis), body-composition and movement of implants or positions of joints. During the last decades more precise methods have been developed1. We have established a centre for radio-stereometric analysis (RSA) and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). With RSA small movements of implants or joints can be measured with a precision of less than 0.1 mm for translation and 0.3° for angular movements. With DXA bone remodelling and body composition can be measured precisely within a few percent.

What do we do?

CIRRO is a research group located in Oslo, Norway, and has since 2006 conducted research within the field of orthopedic implants of all kinds and treatment of musculoskeletal trauma and diseases. Initially, the focus was the hip joint but by now we have expanded to almost all joints in the human body - the knee, foot, shoulder, hand, pelvis and the spine. The research goals include selection of patients, improve surgical techniques, reduce complications, understand the native anatomy and find new treatment options with new technologies. We use conventional Radiostereometric Analysis, DEXA and PROMS but recently we are also expanding to other radiological modalities such as CT and CT-RSA. One of our ambitions is also to improve and take our research tools a step further.

Mostly we want to be an inclusive and stimulating environment for researchers of all ages helping to achieve their academic goals and excelling in their career. We have hosted national and international fellows and are currently supporting several PhD candidates. Our goal is to be in the forefront of musculoskeletal research and help any devoted researcher or clinician to climb a step higher on the academic ladder.

Goals for CIRRO for the next funding period:

“To use and develop precise measurement methods (RSA, dynamic RSA and DXA) in musculoskeletal research.

To further develop CIRRO as the main centre, which can deliver these services to researchers in Helse Sør-Øst, including supervision to PhD candidates in all participating hospitals/institutions.

Secondary aims:
To study new treatments (implants, surgical techniques, biotechnology, interventions like physiotherapy) with precise methods so results can be available for the benefit of patients in a short time and with few patients included.

To study disease development (cartilage wear, bone loss, changes in body composition) together with other methods in order to gain insight into mechanisms for disease and eventual treatment.”

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