Research
Mark is employed as an Associate Professor by The University of Adelaide, and spends a large amount of time supervising and assessing orthopaedic research projects.
Research has always been a passion of his, and even prior to starting his higher surgical training, Mark took 2 years away from clinical work to undertake a research degree (MD), and prepared a thesis on fracture healing and fracture fixation techniques.
Mark is currently the chief or principle investigator of several ongoing clinical trials and studies, and supervises a PhD student who is studying hip fracture management and outcomes. He also oversees 2 clinical fellowships (in complex trauma and pelvic trauma), both of which have a research component.
Mark publishes several original research papers each year in peer reviewed journals, and is a reviewer for numerous publications including the Bone & Joint Journal, Injury, and Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. He has also recently been appointed Deputy Editor for the JAAOS Global Research & Reviews Journal (Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - an extremely prestigious role. The aim of all of his research work is to further medical knowledge and skills, with the aim of improving outcomes for patients with orthopaedic injuries or conditions. We have listed his current projects and published work below
Current Research projects
1. Genus Unicompartmental Knee Replacement – ODEP study. (ODEP = Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel).
Role : Principal Investigator, and Chief Investigator for Royal Adelaide Hospital
Site : Europe and Australia
Current Status : Recruiting. Approximately 100 cases included so far
Description : All implants when they come to market should be monitored to ensure safety and efficacy. This study is based in Europe as well as Australia, and is a study collecting outcome data for a unicompartmental knee replacement called “Genus”. Although not completely new, the implant has not been formally studied.This study will collect data on 350 patients, and report outcomes at 2,5 and 10 years, to ensure that the device is safe, and works well.
2. POWIFF – Prospective Outcomes of Internal Fixation for Wrist Fractures
Role : Principal Investigator, and Chief Investigator for Royal Adelaide Hospital
Site : Royal Adelaide Hospital
Current Status : Recruiting. Approximately 85 cases included so far
Description : This is a prospective study comparing outcomes of wrist fractures fixed using 2 different types of internal fixation plates. The study aims to recruit 200 patients, who are randomly assigned to receive either of the 2 plates. Outcomes are based on patient pain and function, as well as X-ray appearances and complications.
3. SHAFT – Shaft of Humerus Acute Fixation Trial.
Role : Principal Investigator, and Chief Investigator for Royal Adelaide Hospital
Site : Multiple sites across Australia
Current Status : Recruiting has just started.
Description : This is a prospective study comparing outcomes of humerus shaft fractures, managed either using surgery or using a brace. Outcomes are based both on patient reported pain and return to function, as well as the costs of both treatment methods.
4. ProFNUL – Prospective Fracture Neck of Femur Unlocked or Locked Nail Trial
Role : Principal Investigator, and Chief Investigator for Royal Adelaide Hospital
Site : Multiple sites across South Australia
Current Status : Soon to start recruiting
Description : This is a prospective study comparing 2 different fixation devices for a commonly operated injury (neck of femur fracture in elderly patients), and in addition 2 different modes of fixation (static or dynamic) are also being compared. Outcome measures are predominantly X-ray based as this study is looking at the success of the surgical device, but all patients are being assessed for clinical outcomes as well.
5. XT-150. A Placebo-controlled, Preliminary Evaluation of Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Ascending Doses of XT-150 for the Treatment of Osteoarthritic Pain.
Role : Principal Investigator, and Chief Investigator for the University of Adelaide
Site : University of Adelaide
Current Status : Soon to start advertising for patients, and recruiting
Description : This is a prospective study assessing the safety and efficacy of a gene therapy product called XT-150. It is proposed that this drug, when injected into an arthritic joint, may lead to a decrease in pain from osteoarthritis, and allow a greater degree of function. Outcome measures include the incidence of any side-effects from the drug, as well as any changes in pain or function after the drug has been injected. Some patients will be injected with sterile saline, and will form the comparison group.
6. SI Screw positioning via new technique
Role : Principal Investigator, and Chief Investigator for the Royal Adelaide Hospital
Site : Royal Adelaide Hospital, Bristol UK and Oslo, Norway.
Current Status : Recruiting
Description : This is an observational study looking at the safety and accuracy of a new method of inserting percutaneous sacro-iliac screws for pelvic fractures. We are planning to assess 100 consecutive screws using post-operative CT scans, to document the exact position, especially in relation to the sacral nerve roots.
7. Pelvic fracture stability using RSA technology
Role : Principal Investigator, and Chief Investigator for the Royal Adelaide Hospital
Site : Royal Adelaide Hospital
Current Status : Soon to start recruiting
Description : This study is a novel use of RSA technology – we believe the first in the world to use it for this particular injury. By using RSA technology, very small motion at fracture sites can be detected whilst patients move, stand or walk. By assessing patients after fracture fixation and judging fracture stability to such a small degree, it is possible to build patient specific rehabilitation programmes.
NB The Principal Investigator of a study is the research lead who has designed the study and put it into motion
The Chief Investigator is the lead researcher for their particular hospital or clinic.
Published research papers
Professor Rickman has published a number of research papers in esteemed medical journals around the world. This research helps push the boundaries of medical knowledge and change the way certain aspects of surgery and aftercare are carried out. Mark is passionate about his research work
1. Complications of Trans Arterial Embolization During the Resciscitation of Pelvic Fractures.
Boopalan Ramasamy, Dominic Thewliss, Mary Moss, Francois Fraysse, Mark Rickman, Lucian Solomon.
Injury. 2017.10.038
2. Fracture of the tibial diaphysis treated by external fixation and the axial alignment grid : a single surgeons experience.
Hay SM, Rickman M, Saleh M
Injury, Vol 28, No. 7, 437-443, 1997.
3. Characteristics of postoperative weight bearing and management protocols for tibial plateau fractures: Findings from a scoping review.
John Arnold, Chen Tu, Tri Phan, Mark Rickman, Viju Daniel Varghese, Dominic Thewliss, Lucian Solomon.
Injury. 2017 .10.040
4. Pelvic fractures secondary to horse related accidents – an often under-appreciated mechanism of injury.
Viju Daniel Varghese, Mika Rollmann, Lars Grosterlinden, Mark Rickman
SM Emerg Med Crit Care. 2017; 1(3) 1015.
5. Contemporary acetabular fracture surgery. Treading water or swimming upstream?
M Rickman & VD Varghese
BJJ 2017; 99-B: 1125-31
6. Postoperative weight bearing and patient reported outcomes at one year following tibial plateau fractures.
Thewliss D, Fraysse F, Callary SA, Varghese VD, Jones CF, Findlay DM, Atkins GJ, Rickman M, Solomon LB.
Injury. 2017 Jul; 48(7): 1650-1656
7. Defining the pubic symphysis angle with respect to the coronal plane - Clinical and biomechanical considerations.
Link BC, Ha NB, Solomon LB, Rickman M.
Injury. 2017 Jul;48(7):1714-1716. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.04.056.
Epub 2017 Apr 26
8. Acetabular Fractures in the Elderly : Midterm Outcomes of Column Stabilisation and Primary Arthroplasty.
A Ortega-Briones, S Smith, M Rickman
Biomed Research International, 2017, Article ID 4651518
9. Advantages in Using Cemented Polished Tapered Stems When Performing Total Hip Arthroplasty in Very Young Patients.
Costi K, Solomon LB, McGee MA, Rickman MS, Howie DW.
Journal of Arthroplasty November 2016
10. Hip & Knee implants contra-indicated in Obesity.
J Craik, M Bircher, M Rickman.
Annals of Royal College fo Surgeons of England 2016, 98(5): 95-299
11. The Versatility of an Extended Posterior Approach for the Treatment of Acetabular Fractures with Reference to the Superior Gluteal Neurovascular Bundle.
P Studer, D Kosuge, M Rickman, LB Solomon.
Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2016, 30(8): 289-293
12. CORR Insights®: Cemented Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty Provides Definitive Treatment for Femoral Neck Fractures at 20 Years and Beyond.
M Rickman.
November 2015, Volume 473, Issue 11, pp 3600-3601
13. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
J Williams, J Hutt & M Rickman
Case Reports in OrthopedicsVolume 2015, Article ID 160381, 3 pages
14. Implant failure in obese patients : What are the risks?
J Craik, M Bircher, M Rickman
Accepted for publication by the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, July 2015
15. The ongoing relevance of Acetabular Fracture Classifications
J Hutt, A Briones, M Bircher, J Duarka, M Rickman
Bone & Joint Journal, 2015; 97-B: 1139-43
16. Managing Acetabular Fractures in the Elderly with Fixation and Primary Arthroplasty: Aiming for Early Weight Bearing.
M Rickman, Young J, Pearce R, Trompeter A, Hamilton M
Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research, 2014, 472(11):3375-82
17. Acetabular fractures in the older patient: a systematic review of the literature
J Daurka, P Pastides, A Lewis, M Rickman & M Bircher
Bone & Joint Journal 2014, 96(B) No 2, 157-163
18. The management of complex acetabular fractures in the elderly with fracture fixation and primary total hip replacement.
Rickman M, Young J, Bircher M, Pearce R, Hamilton M
European Journal of Trauma 2012, 38, 511-516
19. Thrombo-prophylaxis in pelvic and acetabular trauma patients: a UK consensus?
Guryel E, Pearce R, Rickman M, Bircher M
International Orthopaedics 2012, 36, 165-169
20. Failure of conventional retrograde cystography to detect bladder ruptures in pelvic trauma
Berber O, Emeagi C, Perry M, Rickman MS
Journal of Orthopaedic Traumatology 2011, 12(1), 57-60
21. Open reduction and internal fixation of a traumatic diastasis of the pubic symphysis: one-year radiological and functional outcomes
Putnis SE, Pearce R, Wali UJ, Bircher MD, Rickman MS
Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery 2011, 93(B), 78-84
22. “Verto Sign”: an indicator of increased operative complexity in pelvic trauma surgery.
Berber O, Emeagi C, Rickman M
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons in England, Oct 2010
23. Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures.
Bircher M and Rickman M
Medicolegal Reporting in Orthopaedic Trauma, Ch 16, In Print.
Eds : M Foy & P Fagg
24. Acetabular Fractures in the 21st Century
Rickman M & Bircher M.
Trauma 2008; 10: 149-173
25. Bilateral undisplaced insufficiency neck of femur fractures associated with short-term steroid use: a case report
Gurdezi S, Trehan RK, Rickman M
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:79
26. Tensioning Technique and Fixator Stability of a Circular Fixator with Threaded Fine Wires.
Rickman M, Saleh M, Yang, L
Journal of Biomechanics, 39, 544-550, 2006
27. The Influence of Fine Wire Design and Tensioning Technique on the Wire-Bone Interface and Fracture Sire Motion.
Rickman M. MD Thesis, The University of Sheffield, June 2004
28. Fine Wire Frame Arthrodesis for Salvage of Severe Ankle Pathology
H Al-Hussainy, Rickman M, M Saleh
Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery 2003, 85B S2, 127
29. A Biomechanical Study of Fracture Site Motion Using Threaded Fine Wires
Rickman M, L Yang & M Saleh
Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery 2001, 83B S3, 356
30. A New Tensioning Method For Threaded Fine Wires in External Frames
Rickman M, L Yang & M Saleh
Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery 2001, 83B S3, 355-356
31. Circular Frame Arthrodesis for theSalvage of Severe Ankle Pathology or Trauma.
Rickman M, Kreibich DN, Saleh M
Injury, Vol 32, No 3, 241-247, 2001
32. External Fixation Techniques for Arthrodesis of the Knee and Ankle.
Saleh M & Rickman M
Orthofix External Fixation in Trauma and Orthopaedics, Chapter 53, May 2000.
Eds : De Bastiani G, Apley AG, Goldberg A.
33. Vascular complications of osteotomies in limb reconstruction.
Rickman M, Saleh M, Gaines PA, Eyres K
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 1999; 81-B:890-2
34. External Fixation of Childrens Fractures - Use of the Orthofix Dynamic Axial Fixator.
Hull JB, Sanderson PL, Rickman M, Bell MJ, Saleh M
Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics part B, Vol 6 No 3, 203-206, 1997