Research initiatives of the Division of Rehabilitation Medicine take a variety of forms, including clinical, translational and basic science. An important aspect of our research has been a number of collaborative projects in gene therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, working closely with Dr. Robert White, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.

Our current areas of clinical, translational and basic science research include

• Gene therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • The identification of human retinal dystrophin as an isoform of skeletal muscle dystrophin has led to a multi-institutional effort to perform gene therapy experiments. Scientists are using retinal dystrophin in DMD skeletal muscle as a replacement therapy for this lethal muscle disease. Introducing retinal dystrophin by genetic manipulation in severe DMD mice models prevents severe muscle degeneration, dilated cardiomyopathy and kyphosis. Also, these mice models have demonstrated a normal lifespan. We accomplished this study with grant support from the March of Dimes and the Patton Memorial Trust.
• Outcome measures and management strategies in obstetric brachial plexus injuries
  • Social Functioning in Youths with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injury.
  • Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin in the Treatment of Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injuries, Katherine B. Richardson grant funded study.
  • A Survey Assessing the Management of Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy in 23 institutions.
• Oral pharmacology spasticity management
  • Baclofen Efficacy and Safety Trials - Pediatric Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Study of Oral Baclofen for the Treatment of Spasticity Associated with Cerebral Palsy, NICHD funded multi-center study.
• Community participation and quality of life
  • Assessment of Growth in Independent Living Skills in the Adolescent/Young Adult with Spina Bifida Following a Transition Camp Experience (data analysis phase).
  • Using Motivational Interviewing to Encourage Urinary Catheterization in Children and Adolescents with Spina Bifida (data collection phase).
• Botox Treatment Drug Trials
  • Botox Treatment in Pediatric Upper and Lower Limb Spasticity in collaboration with Allergan
  • Botox and Limb Flexor Synergy
• Data Repositories
  • Natural History of Dystrophinopathy Patients: Correlate the severity of the dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy with dystrophin gene mutations and skeletal muscle function in collaboration with Nationwide Children's Hospital and MDA
  • Development of an Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring data repository

Other scholarly activities we are involved with include

• Monthly lectures, didactics and journal club
• Oral and poster presentations locally and at national meetings
  • Difficulties in Transitioning Adolescents from Pediatrics to Internal Medicine, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, April 2012
  • Bright Futures Transition Camp: A project to promote independence in adolescents with spinal cord defects, Second World Congress for Spina Bifida, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 2012
  • Pediatric Limb Deficiency, PRM Fellows Lecture Series Podcast, February 2012
  • Botox Injections for the Treatment of Neonatal Brachial Plexus Injury, 72nd Annual Assembly, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orlando, Florida, November 2011
  • The Pediatric Upper Extremity Surgical Management in BPI and Cerebral Palsy, 72nd Annual Assembly, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orlando, Florida, November 2011
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Arthrogryposis: Application of a Universal Tool, 6th Annual AMC Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, July 2011
  • Venothromboembolism on the inpatient pediatric unit: a national survey, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 71st Annual Assembly, Seattle, Washington, November 2010
  • Intraoperative Electrophysiologic Assessment in Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, 71st Annual Assembly, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Seattle, Washington, November 2010
  • Pediatric Limb Deficiency, Core didactic, presented for KU Rehabilitation Residents, Kansas University Medical Center, February 2010
  • Don't be Stumped About Prosthetics Decision Making in Children with Limb Deficiency, 71st American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Assembly, Seattle, November 2010
  • Intrathecal Baclofen pump action plan: A tool to educate patients, American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Washington, D.C., September 2010
• Journal and E-Publications
  • Collier TR, Patel A, Rinaldi, RJ. Hypothermic Induced Peripheral Polyneuropathy Following a Drowning Episode. PM&R. 2012. 4:230-233
  • Mayer, M, Suskauer S, Houtrow A, Watanabe T. Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in the Pediatric Population. PM&R. 2011. June;3(6):578-85
  • Rinaldi, RJ. Neonatal Brachial Plexus Injury. AAPMR Knowledge Now. 2011
  • Rinaldi, RJ. Cerebral Palsy. AAPMR Knowledge Now. 2011
• Textbook Chapters
  • Rinaldi, RJ. Osteoid Osteoma. Common Problems in Rehabilitation Medicine Pediatrics, Editor M. Nelson Demos Medical Publishing, 2010
  • Rinaldi, RJ. Klippel-Feil Syndrome. Common Problems in Rehabilitation Medicine Pediatrics, Editor M. Nelson. Demos Medical Publishing, 2010
• Serving as peer reviewers for rehabilitation journals
  • PM&R The Journal of Injury, Function and Rehabilitation
  • Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
  • American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • International Journal of Pediatrics