Biomechanics
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Institute of Biomechanics

Director: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Peter Augat



Mobility, guaranteed by healthy bones and joints, is a basic prerequisite for good quality of life and high life expectancy. Lesions of the musculoskeletal system and degenerative diseases such as the osteoarthrosis or osteoporosis limit this mobility.

The research focus "musculoskeletal diseases, biomechanics and sports medicine" prepares new and improved ways for treatment of these diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The Murnau biomechanical laboratory is the centre of this research focus which was initiated at Paracelsus Medical Private University in Salzburg. Through the close cooperation between the partners of this research focus, the resources must be bundled and the methods must be used synergetically.

The core competence of the biomechanics laboratory of BGU Murnau consists in the mechanical research of biological tissues, above all in interplay with medical implants. Thereby both the basic research and the search for solutions that are closer to the clinic practice are used. One of the central research areas is the osteosynthetic and prosthetic treatment of the fractures of the osteoporotic bones. The treatment of these fractures is, as before, not yet solved satisfactorily and is still related to frighteningly high morbidity or mortality.

In cooperation with:

Murnau Emergency Hospital

Mission

The goal of our research is to improve sustainably the treatment of patients with diseases of the locomotor system (musculoskeletal diseases).

The musculoskeletal diseases resulting from an accident or old age-related "wear" can constrain dramatically the individual mobility. We concentrate here research activities on the following: Maintaining or restoring the mobility after acute injuries or degenerative diseases.

Our activities are supported on the following pillars:

  • Mechanical tests
  • Numerical simulation and medical imaging
  • Walking and mobility analysis
  • Clinical studies
  • Teaching

We see our strengths in the interdisciplinary research team of physicists, engineers, sports researchers and physicians and a multifaceted spectrum of methods. What is essential here is the direct contact with the professional association emergency hospital Murnau and the link to the clinical practice resulting from that.

In order to guarantee the high quality standards in our research, we have developed since 2009 a quality management system which complies with DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 and is TÜV-certified.

Research

Biomechanics means the application of the laws of mechanics, statics and dynamics on biological materials. However, this is not limited to the forces that are acting from outside (e.g. the weight force), but it takes into account above all also the internal forces (e.g. the force of the muscles).


Osteosynthesis

The fixing of the osteosynthesis in the case of multi-fragment fractures or in bones affected by osteoporosis is again always connected to the problematic of achieving a sufficient primary stability. The modification of the implants can contribute to the improvement of the anchoring of the osteosynthetic material. The many possibilities for the modification include geometric variation, angular stability, or coated implants. These new implants must match the existing implants and be tested for their mechanical aptitude. 


Osteoporosis

The osteoporosis was defined by the WHO as one of the most urgent problems of this century ("Bone & Joint Decade"). The operative treatment of patients with osteoporosis is made difficult by the reduced bone quality and the healing proceeds slowly. In the meantime, there are therapies which have antiresorptive or anabolic effect on the intact bones, but it is largely unknown how these therapies influence the healing of the bones affected by osteoporosis.

In an experimental study, the healing of the fracture in the case of existing osteoporosis must be studied under the effect of approved therapeutic active substances or substances that are expected to be approved for treatment of advanced bone loss. If we succeed in identifying a drug therapy which accelerates the healing of the fracture in patients suffering from osteoporosis and thus permits an earlier mobilisation, the morbidity and mortality rates of geriatric patient with osteoporotic fractures can be reduced. 

Osteoporosis service

The most urgent objective in the treatment of older patients with a fracture is the fixing of the fracture with maximum stability and quick mobilisation as much as possible. After that, however, it is necessary to examine the patient for eventually existing osteoporosis and its adequate treatment. Part of this are bone density examination, management of the therapy and rehabilitation.

Since 2006, the professional association emergency hospital Murnau has been offering this service of guidelines-based treatment of eventually existing osteoporosis to its patients. Along with the bone density measurement with DXA of the guideline or the recommendation for necessary therapy, the patient data are documented for research purposes. In addition to that, the effectiveness of the measures applied by us are tested and eventually optimised.


Fracture healing

For the prognosis of the course of the healing of complex fractures, numerical simulation models can be used, which determine the mechanical and biological situation and anticipate on this basis the differentiation processes in the participating tissue types. For validation of such models, data about the biomechanical status in typical fracture situations must be obtained. Furthermore, the prognoses of the numerical models must be validated with the help of observations on real healing processes of patients. This project is developed in cooperation with the Ulm University. 


Arthrodesis

For arthrodesis of the lower ankle joints, mostly new techniques based on the introduction of two parallel screws are used. The objective of this project is the research on the effect of different positioning of the screws as well as the effect of the additional introduction of a bone splinter for the primary stability of the osteosynthesis.

Work areas

In order to correspond to the different requirements of the clinically-relevant research in the area of trauma surgery and orthopaedic technology, we have built a wide spectrum of methods.

It is important for us to be able to include in our offer the procedures from the mechanical testing in the laboratory and up to the examination of the individual patients.

Our priority areas

Teaching

Within the framework of our connection to Paracelsus Medical Private University Salzburg, we offer teaching events for medical specialists as well as for students in the doctorate study programs.

Annual reports

You can find below the annual reports of the biomechanical laboratory for download:

Team and contact

Univ.-Prof. Peter Augat
Institute of Biomechanics
Director

Phone: +49 8841 484563
Fax: +49 8841 484573
Mail: biomechanik@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Isabelle Küster
Institute of Biomechanics
Assistant of the Head

Phone: +49 8841 484563
Fax: +49 8841 484573
Mail: isabelle.kuester@bgu-murnau.de
Pirko Ott
Institute of Biomechanics
Assistant of the Head

Phone: +49 8841 484563
Mail: pirko.ott@bgu-murnau.de
Dr. scient. med. Andreas Brand
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Assistant

Phone: +49 8841 484566
Mail: andreas.brand@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Sandra Erichsen
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate (currently on maternity leave)

Phone: +49 8841 483059
Mail: sandra.thoeny@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Carolin Fischer
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 482272
Mobile: +49 8841 484943
Mail: carolin.fischer@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Markus Greinwald
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 482596
Mail: markus.greinwald@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Priv.-Doz.in Dipl.-Ing.in Dr.in Marianne Hollensteiner
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 483843
Mail: marianne.hollensteiner@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Dr.in Silke Keiser
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 482272
Mail: silke.keiser@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Dr.in Isabella Klöpfer-Krämer
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 484566
Tel.: +49 8841 484750

Mail: isabella.kloepfer-kraemer@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Inga Kröger
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 482534
Mail: inga.kroeger@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Ing. Mischa Mühling, M.Sc.
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 483842
Mail: Mischa.Muehling@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Ass.-Prof.in Priv.-Doz.in Dr.in Stephanie Panzer, MSc
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 484265
Mail: stephanie.panzer@stud.pmu.ac.at
Publications
Dipl.-Ing.in Sabrina Sandriesser, PhD
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +43 8841 484561
Mail: sabrina.sandriesser@stud.pmu.ac.at
Publications
Mag.a rer. nat. Katharina Trenkwalder
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Mail: k.trenkwalder@stud.pmu.ac.at
Publications
Hannes Wackerle
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841-482534
Mail: hannes.wackerle@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Dr. med. univ. Johannes Becker
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 884148-4563
Mail: johannes.becker@alumni.pmu.ac.at
Publications
Dr. med. Christof Wutte
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Phone: +49 8841 48-4406
Mail: christof.wutte@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Dirk Baumeister, BSc, MSc
Institute of Biomechanics
Research Associate

Mail: dirk.baumeister@bgu-murnau.de
Publications
Dr. med. univ. Philipp Blum
Institute of Biomechanics

Mail: philipp.blum@bgu-murnau.de