Dr. Athiviraham’s research aims to improve clinical outcomes following knee injuries by integrating both biological and psychological factors into patient care. One ongoing prospective study investigates how psychological traits—specifically resilience, pain catastrophizing, and general mental health—affect recovery trajectories after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Using validated mental health assessments and condition-specific outcome measures collected over time, the study seeks to develop predictive models for return to activity and functional recovery. This work will also use causal inference techniques to identify modifiable psychological factors that may influence surgical outcomes and inform targeted interventions.
A second clinical study focuses on biologic augmentation strategies for isolated meniscal repair, comparing bone marrow venting procedures (BMVP) with intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. These methods aim to replicate the biologically favorable healing environment often seen when meniscal repairs are performed alongside ACL reconstruction. The study assesses failure rates, reoperation frequency, and multiple patient-reported outcome measures, including KOOS, IKDC, PROMIS-29, and Tegner scores, with a goal of identifying the most effective strategy for enhancing meniscal healing and long-term joint preservation.
In the translational space, Dr. Athiviraham is developing a novel small animal model to study meniscal injury and repair. This model uses a reproducible defect in the rat meniscus to evaluate gene therapy techniques involving recombinant adenoviral vectors encoding growth factors such as TGF-β1 and FGF-2. These factors have shown promise in promoting meniscal healing in ex vivo studies, and this work represents the first in vivo application using a cost-effective and scalable animal model. Together, these studies aim to advance personalized treatment strategies and biologic innovations in orthopedic sports medicine.