Hospital gets $2.2 million for study

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island Hospital has received a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study a treatment that may prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

The hospital says the study will focus on a manufactured product called lubricin, which can be injected into joints to act as a lubricant. Lubricin is believed to protect cartilage.

The hospital says U.S. Army orthopedic surgeons anticipate that almost half of soldiers will develop post-traumatic osteoarthritis after injuring a joint. The condition is caused by damage to cartilage of the joint surface after an injury, including a sports injury, fall or other trauma.

The condition commonly develops after joint injuries cause the joint to wear away, resulting in pain and reduced mobility.

The researchers are Gregory Jay and Braden Fleming.