First NT orthopaedics biomechanics lab to objectively evaluate biomechanical data of Indigeneous OA patients

Indigenous people in NT are most affected by joint osteoarthritis (OA), moving with painful and debilitating joints longer because of the inability to fund expensive elective surgeries. Conventional clinical assessment tools (E.g. clinical surveys, imaging and surgical methods) may be qualitative and untested for Indigenous people and predominantly to evaluate static joint data. Biomechanical assessment (motion capture lab data and computer modelling) helps surgeons (clinicians) provide quantitative dynamic data on patients’ ability to perform activities of daily living. While much objective biomechanical data on the general population exists, no existing biomechanics data exists on Indigenous OA patients. Darwin (NT) has the highest proportion of Indigenous people (~33%) who are most socioeconomically disadvantaged, and NT does not have a motion capture lab (to inform objective clinical care) as compared to other states/territories in Australia. This CDU/RDH/DPH team has experience in clinical and computational orthopaedic biomechanics, Indigenous People’s medical research, physiology, material engineering and arthroplasty surgery. We seek funding for 70.89K AUD to procure a VICON motion capture equipment (65.89K AUD) and associated capital works (5K AUD) to build a camera frame for the lab, and CDU will provide lab space, and  personnel time cost in kind (127.6k AUD) to support this motion capture lab to examine OA and other orthopaedic(e.g. cerebral palsy in children) within NT. 70.89k represents less than the cost of 3 joint replacements but will permit high-quality clinical data that will spearhead national support on this little-discussed social healthcare problem.   

The current medical and literature knowledge uses the same clinical tools, medical imaging and surgery intervention to evaluate and treat the general community and Indigenous people with joint osteoarthritis (OA). Most anecdotal and very little literature data exist to state the arthroplasty guidelines (>65YO, painful&poor joint function and high grade OA) do not apply to the average Indigenous patient. The immediate outcome would be the setup of the first NT lab to evaluate joint function of Indigenous OA patients, with a team of researchers, clinicians and surgeons with demonstrated research and clinical track. Importantly, the team includes 2 well-qualified indigenous researchers (Professor Ford and Ms Motlap) to provide culturally safe and respectful communication with Indigenous clients. 

(1) The short-term outcome is to overcome the paucity of data on indigenous OA patients, by collecting clinical outcomes, medical imaging and motion capture (or biomechanical) data of Indigenous people and general community people for pre- and post- joint arthroplasty surgery. These data can be collected with the setup of the first NT biomechanical laboratory that provides clinical and surgery data on orthopaedic surgery and OA. (2)The long-term outcome to ensure clinical outcomes or mainstream clinical questionnaires which are primarily used for general population are validated for the indigenous people (which is a front-end clinical tool), and to determine if any relationship exists between clinical outcomes, medical imaging (and 3D models) and biomechanical data of Indigenous people. These data will provide literature and surgical data that will improve OA with indigenous people.

The sought funding of 70.89K AUD from Cybec foundation will fund two essential equipment for this laboratory: First, a VICON (the leading motion capture manufacturer for 3D motion capture, Quote number 3239 by Logemas (sole AU distributor of VICON) which costs 65.89K AUD. Second, a customised camera frame to be manufactured and installed locally (see Appendix, this quoted cost has been quoted by two different estimators locally). These items will allow the team to measure 3D motion data, capture ground reaction force data necessary to properly examine muscle and joint function. Currently, CDU owns 3 force plates (~worth 240K AUD) and has a wireless EMG system (>60k AUD) in her biomechanical laboratory. CDU requires a research-grade VICON motion capture system and a camera frame to conduct this important social healthcare study. CDU will support in-kind researchers’ time cost (127.6k AUD). CDU employee (LIM, first grant applicant) has both clinical and research track record in orthopaedics surgery and biomechanics involving OA patients. Associated DPH/DPH orthopaedic surgeon will commit in-kind time cost. 

Regarding the short- and long-term aims, two progress reports will be provided to the foundation. A progress report will be provided to the Foundation 1- year post-award (Early 2026) to report our outcomes in the short term. We will report the number of patient data we have collected. Specifically, the number of Indigenous and general community OA patients’ clinical information on clinical outcomes, medical imaging, and motion capture (or biomechanical) data at both pre- and post-joint arthroplasty surgery. This orthopaedics dataset has not been known to be reported in the literature. A subsequent progress report will be submitted to the Foundation between 2- to 3- year post-award (2027) to report our outcomes in the longer term. We anticipate the first orthopaedic study on surgical, clinical, imaging and biomechanical data on Indigenous OA patients, and we expect high-quality journal outcomes to highlight this underreported medical problem and hence to solicit national/federal support on improving quality of life and joint function for Indigenous patients from 2027.