« back to the research overview

Disturbances in neural control of movement

Principal investigator: Dr. Gert-Jan Kleinrensink

Neuroscience 

The long-term objective of our line of research is to unravel the pathophysiological mechanisms that underly various movement disorders. In the past one of the goals was to validate the Cervico Ocular Reflex (COR) as a possible tool for evaluating multiple (minor) trauma to the cervical spine. The COR is the eye response evoked by passive neck rotation in the absence of visual or vestibular stimulation. The long term objective of this line of research is to know whether the COR can be a tool in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of multiple cervical spine lesions. 

Surgical Anatomy 

1) LISA 

At the moment the focus of this group is mainly on Surgical Anatomy. In cooperation with the dept. of Surgery and the  faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (Technical University Delft) research in the field of (endoscopic) surgery is performed. The three staff members of this group (Kleinrensink, Stoeckart and Lange) are also involved in the Lowlands Institute of Surgical and applied Anatomy (LISA- Rotterdam). In this institute education and research in the field of gross anatomy related to surgery is initiated and performed. Research projects are: vascularisation of abdominal organs, repair of abdominal wall defects and (in cooperation with the faculty of Industrial Design TU Delft) the development of surgical instruments based on (functional) anatomical aspects.

2) The REPAIR-group (Rotterdam Erasmus Project on Abdominal Innovative surgical Research)

Leaders of this group are prof. Hans Jeekel, prof. Johan Lange and Dr. Gert-Jan Kleinrensink. At the moment 4-6 AIOS are performing a total of about 25 research projects  on almost all aspects of the field of abdominal  wall closure surgery. This research ranges from basic materials science (TU Delft)  till clinical trials on nerve identifying aspects of inguinal hernia repair. besides this one AIO is perorming research on the early diagnosis of leakage of colonanastomosis. Together with the faculty of micro-electronics (prof Paddy French) a microchip to be placed on the suture is developed, to detect anastomotic leakage within the first day postoperatively. This project is supported by an STW grant.  

Selected recent publications

  • Lange JF, Koppert S, v. Eyck CHJ, Kazemier G, Kleinrensink G-J and Godschalk M. The gastrocolic trunk of Henle in pancreatic surgery; an anatomo-clinical study. J. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg. 2000; 7: 401-403
  • Kleinrensink G-J, Stoeckart R, Mulder PGH, v.d. Hoek G, Broek Th, Vleeming A, Snijders CJ. Upper limb tension tests as tools in the diagnosis of nerve and plexus lesions. Anatomical and biomechanical aspects. Clinical Biomechanics 2000; 15: 9-14
  • Knook MTT, van Rosmalen AC, Yoder BE, Kleinrensink G-J, Snijders CJ, Looman CWN and v. Steensel CJ. Optimal mesh size for endoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a study in a porcine model. Surg. Endosc. 2001, 15: 1471-1477.
  • Pool-Goudzwaard AL, Kleinrensink G-J., Snijders CJ, Entius, CAC, Stoeckart R. The sacroiliac part of the iliolumbar ligament. J. Anat 199, 2001, 457-463
  • Rooijens PCM, Lange JF and Kleinrensink G-J. The preperitoneal fascia dilemma in endoscopic hernia repair. Surg. Endosc. Accepted