Clinical Trials

Research participation advances orthopedic care and is entirely voluntary. Here is how studies work in our practice and what participation involves.

Overview

Research in Our Practice

Dr. Kunze's research spans outcomes after hip, knee, and shoulder surgery, cartilage and biologic treatments, and the application of machine learning to surgical prognosis. Several studies enroll patients seen in clinic.

Participation is always optional and never affects the care you receive. Declining to enroll — or withdrawing after enrolling — has no bearing on your treatment.

Study Types

How Studies Are Structured

Outcome registries

Patient-reported outcome scores collected before and after surgery. Participation typically means completing questionnaires at scheduled intervals.

Prospective cohort studies

Patients undergoing a specific procedure are followed over time to characterize recovery, function, and durability of the result.

Comparative studies

Two established treatments are compared under a defined protocol to determine which performs better for a given problem.

Imaging and biomarker studies

Additional imaging or a tissue or blood sample is collected to study healing at a biological level.

Participation

What to Expect

Eligibility screening

A research coordinator reviews whether your diagnosis and treatment plan match an open study's criteria.

Informed consent

You will receive a written description of the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits, and time to ask questions before signing.

Participation

Most studies involve questionnaires and standard follow-up visits. Any additional visit, imaging, or sample is described in advance.

Results

Findings are published in peer-reviewed journals. Individual data is de-identified and never published in an identifiable form.

Interested in Participating?

If you would like to know whether an open study applies to your condition, mention it at your visit or contact our office. You can also review Dr. Kunze's published work on the research page.

Learn More About the Research

See published studies and ongoing areas of investigation.

View Research