Research Projects

ORTHOballistics

Assessing the evaluation, treatment options and socioeconomic impact of gunshot injuries, as we are faced with a high burden of gunshot wounds in our local population leading to skeletal trauma. 

Collaborators
Prof S Maqungo (Project Coordinator)
Prof S Roche (Shoulder Surgeon)
Dr G McCollum (Foot Surgeon)
Prof A Nicol (Trauma Surgery UCT)
Dr P Navsaria (Trauma Surgery UCT)
Prof M Held
Prof M Keel (University of Bern)

GOGO

Generalized Osteoporosis and Geriatric Orthopaedics

Improving orthopaedic care for elderly patients, who are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society. As a part of this research, we are assessing the prevention, treatment, and outcome of hip fractures - one of the most costly injuries in our hospitals.

Collaborators

Prof S Maqungo (Project Coordinator)
Assoc Prof I Ross (Endocrinology UCT)
Prof Kalla (Rheumatology)
Assoc Prof Sipho Dlamini (Infectious Diseases)
Dr Sebastiana Kalula (Geriatric Medicine)
Dr NJ Kauta (Orthopaedics)
Prof M Held

SOSAFRICA

Sports Orthopaedic Service

Assessing the incidence of sports injuries in schools and universities, through a surveillance system, improving the efficiency of care and service for patients with sports injuries in public hospitals. 

Collaborators

Prof Held - (Project Coordinator)
Prof Roche (Shoulders)
Dr Von Bormann (Knees)
Dr Hobbs (Knees)
Dr McCollum (Foot and Ankle)
Dr Posthumus (Excercise Science and Sports Medicine)

MOOIAFRICA

Modifying orthopaedic outcome in AFRICA

Increasing the efficiency of our patient management and measuring the outcome of orthopaedic patients accurately. Our focus is to improve the waiting lists for our patients, referral pathways, data management in our hospitals, direct patient input in our service and design outcome measures for our patients.

Collaborators

Prof Held

Prof. Dunn (Spine)
Prof. Roche (Shoulders)
Dr Von Bormann (Knees)
Dr Maqungo (Trauma)
Dr Nortje (Hip/Knee arthroplasty UCT)

MUTI

Musculoskeletal TB Infections

Assessing novel ways to improve the diagnosis and diagnostic accuracy of musculoskeletal TB infections. Our focus is on automated nucleic acid amplification tests and the radiological assessment in TB patients.

Collaborators

Prof Dunn (Project Coordinator)

Prof Held (Orthopaedic Research Unit)
Prof Laubscher (Adolescent Orthopaedic Care)
Dr Zar (Child Health, Red Cross Hospital)
Dr Dix-Peek (Pediatric Orthopaedic Unit, UCT)
Dr Candy (Radiology Groote Schuur Hospital)
Prof Thienemann (Institute of Infectious Disease)
Dr Robyn Waters (Orthopaedic Research Unit)
Mrs Nosipho Mncwabe (Research Nurse)
Ms Nomsa Yekiso (Research Nurse)
Dr Julian Scherer (Orthopaedic Research Unit)

HOST study

HIV in Orthopaedic Skeletal Trauma

Assessing TB/HIV coinfections, HIV in orthopaedic Trauma and HIV in acute and chronic musculoskeletal infections. The rate of HIV infections amongst the orthopaedic patients we treat is one of the highest in the world and influences the care of orthopaedic pathologies. 

Collaborators

Prof S Graham (Project Coordinator & PHD)

Prof S Maqungo (PI)
Assoc Prof Laubscher (Collaborator)
Prof M Held (Collaborator)
Prof Lalloo (Collaborator/Supervisor)
Prof Simpson (Collaborator/Supervisor)
Prof Harrison (Collaborator/Supervisor)
Prof Nando Ferreira (Collaborator)
Mrs Nosipho Mncwabe (Research Nurse)
Ms Nomsa Yekiso (Research Nurse)

Biomedical Engineering Laboratory

Creating a collaborative space for MMed and MSc students to work on orthopaedic-surgery-related projects and creating frugal innovations with local relevance, focusing on design work and 3D printing.

Collaborators

Prof. Roche (Project Coordinator)

Dr. Sivarasu (Biomechanics UCT)
Dr Hosking
Dr Roopam Dey

BLUESKY

Anything Goes

Any creative innovation advancing orthopaedics in our hospitals and beyond will be supported once our team feels it is of benefit. 

Collaborators

Dr McCollum (Project Coordinator)

Dr Solomons, Dr. Roussot, Dr. Roche
Bertha Institute (Inclusive Health Innovations)
Department of the Western Cape (Health)
IT University of Cape Town
Department of ENT - Groote Schuur Hospital
Department of Ophthalmology - Groote Schuur