The research group at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute has been awarded the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association’s 2026 Research Grant for the second consecutive year. The grant proposal, written by research fellow Anthony T. Drazick, MD under the direction of principal investigator Dr. Jeremy Burnham, was selected through the LOA’s competitive review process.
The funded proposal, “Longitudinal Assessment of Quadriceps Muscle Oxygenation During Rehabilitation Following ACL Reconstruction,” will use wearable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors placed on the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) to track muscle oxygenation across a 9-month rehabilitation protocol. Patients undergoing quad tendon autograft ACL reconstruction will be monitored at multiple timepoints to build phase-based oxygenation profiles.
Why Muscle Oxygenation Matters After ACL Surgery
Persistent quadriceps weakness after ACL reconstruction remains the single largest barrier to safe return to sport. Traditional strength testing, including isokinetic dynamometry and single-leg hop tests, can normalize while deeper physiologic impairments persist at the tissue level. By tracking VMO oxygenation in real time during functional rehabilitation exercises, this research aims to identify deficits that conventional measures miss.
The clinical goal is a set of oxygenation benchmarks that complement existing functional criteria for return-to-sport clearance. If a patient passes standard strength and hop testing but demonstrates persistent oxygenation asymmetry, that information could change the timeline for safe return.
Building a Research Program in Baton Rouge
Two consecutive years of competitive LOA funding reflects the growth of a translational research infrastructure at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute. Dr. Burnham’s research program has produced more than 50 peer-reviewed publications spanning ACL biomechanics, rotatory knee laxity, anterolateral complex augmentation, and functional return-to-sport testing.
The concept of integrating NIRS sensors into ACL rehabilitation was first introduced to the team by Dr. Jacob Calcei, a sports medicine surgeon at University Hospitals in Cleveland, whose early insights helped shape the direction of this proposal. Dr. Drazick developed the study design and wrote the grant application that secured the award.
The team is grateful to the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association for its continued investment in advancing orthopedic research across the state. The 2026 LOA Research Grant was presented at the LOA Annual Meeting, held March 20-21, 2026 at the InterContinental Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.
About the Research Team
Anthony T. Drazick, MD serves as orthopaedic research fellow at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute. Dr. Jeremy Burnham serves as principal investigator. The research team includes athletic trainers, physical therapists, and research coordinators who collaborate across the ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation pipeline.