Research and Publications
A list of Prof. Ek’s current publications can be viewed on PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate or downloaded in PDF format.
Current research interests include:
Shoulder
- Clinical outcomes following reverse shoulder arthroplasty
- Clinical and radiological outcomes following anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty with glenoid deficiency
- Clinical outcomes following tendon transfers for rotator cuff deficiency – lower trapezius tendon transfer, latissimus dorsi tendon transfer
- Biomechanical analysis of plating techniques for unstable distal clavicle fractures with coracoclavicular ligament involvement (Type 2B)
- Influence of Bankart lesion, glenoid bone loss and bankart repair on glenohumeral cartilage loading using patient-specific finite element (FEA) models
- Prospective randomised controlled trial (RCT) – Does collagen scaffold augmentation of high grade partial rotator cuff tendon tears improve early functional recovery? RePACT study (currently recruiting) – Co-Investigator
Elbow
- Outcomes following arthroscopic elbow contracture release
- Prospective Randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing surgery vs. autologous tenocyte implantation (ATI) for chronic refractory lateral epicondylitis (currently recruiting) – Principle Investigator
- Role of transenamic acid (TXA) following arthroscopic elbow contracture release – a case control study
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Biomechanical comparison of distal biceps repair techniques – two-point unicortical onlay technique vs. bicortical inlay technique
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Biomechanical comparison of conventional tension band wire fixation versus novel tension band suture fixation for simple transverse olecranon fractures
Hand & Wrist
- Biomechanical analysis of scaphoid nonunion fixation
- Novel scapholunate ligament repair techniques
- Analysis of 1st CMC joint alignment – 4D CT scan
- Development of a wrist simulator
- Prospective Randomised controlled trial (RCT) of single vs. double headless compression screw fixation of scaphoid waist non-unions (recruitment completed) – Principle Investigator
- Prospective Randomised controlled trial (RCT) of 2 corner vs. 4 corner fusion of wrist arthritis (currently recruiting) – Principle Investigator
- Determining the changes in muscle architecture following flexor tendon injuries in a rabbit model
Past Fellows
DANDENONG/MONASH HEALTH HAND FELLOWSHIP:
2013 – 14: Dr. Vivek Shridhar (Australia) Toowoomba, QLD, Australia
2015: Dr. Avanthi Mandaleson (Australia) Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2015 – 16: Dr. Sheena Sikora (Canada) Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
2016 – 17: Dr. Adrian Murphy (Ireland) Glasgow, Scotland, UK
2017 – 18: Dr. Oliver Stone (England) Devon/Exeter, England, UK
2018 – 19: Dr. John Galbraith (Ireland) Galway, Ireland
2018 – 19: Dr. Tanup Prasai (Nepal) Kathmandu, Nepal
2019 – 20: Dr. Edward Liu (Canada) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2020 – 21: Dr. Nicola Fine (England) Devon/Exeter, England, UK
2021 – 22: Dr. Richard Tee (New Zealand) Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2022 – 23: Dr. Rebecca Lyons (Ireland) Cork, Ireland
2023 – 24: Dr. Zachary Zhang (Canada) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2023 – 24: Dr. Carolyn Choong (Malaysia) Penang, Malaysia
2024 – 25: Dr. Stephen Liew (Singapore) Singapore
2024 – 25: Dr. Paula Wrafter (Ireland)
MELBOURNE ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP SHOULDER / UPPER LIMB FELLOWSHIP:
2013: Dr. Justin LeBlanc (Canada) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2014: Dr. Malin Wijeratna (England) Nottingham, England, United Kingdom
2014: Dr. Matthew Yalizis (Australia) Sydney, NSW, Australia
2015: Dr. Adrian Schneider (Switzerland) St. Gallen, Switzerland
2016: Dr. Glenn Boyce (Australia) Bendigo/Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2016: Dr. Stephanie Hinse (Canada) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2016: Dr. Jennifer Flynn (Australia) Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2017: Dr. Richard Jamieson (Australia) Hobart, TAS, Australia
2017: Dr. Godefroy Brais (Canada) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2017: Dr. Kemble Wang (Australia) Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2018: Dr. Michael Perret (Australia) Perth, WA, Australia
2018: Dr. Matthew Ricks (England) Wrightington, England, UK
2018 – 19: Dr. Paul Borbas (Switzerland) Zurich, Switzerland
2019: Dr. Gayan Padmasekara (Australia) Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2019: Dr. Naghman Choudhry (England) Manchester, England, UK
2019: Dr. Shivan Jassim (England) Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2020: Dr. Andrew McBride (Australia) Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2020: Dr. Rachel Blackshaw (Australia) Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2020: Dr. Jay Amaranath (Australia) Sydney, NSW, Australia
2021: Dr. Robert Zbeda (USA) New York, NY, USA
2021: Dr. Raf Asaid (Australia) Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2021 – 22: Dr. Lukas Ernstbrunner (Switzerland) Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2021 – 22: Dr. J. Tristian Cassidy (Ireland) Limerick, Ireland
2022 – 23: Dr. Franziska Eckers (Switzerland) Basel, Switzerland
2023 – 24: Dr. Bettina Hochreiter (Switzerland) Zurich, Switzerland
2024: Dr. Kenan Burrows (New Zealand)