Sophia Sangiorgio, PhD

Professor Director, Biomechanics Laboratory

Research Interests:

  • Biomechanics

  • Implant Performance

  • Deformity Corrections (Scoliosis, Clubfoot)

  • Pediatric Orthopedic Research

  • Implant Retrieval and Failure Analysis

  • Biomaterials

  • Implant Wear and Biodegradation

  • Fretting Wear and Corrosion

Overview

Dr. Sangiorgio is the Director of the Biomechanics Laboratory of the JVL Orthopaedic Research Center, located at Orthopaedic Institute for Children in downtown LA.

In the last decade, Dr. Sangiorgio has conducted several preclinical studies to evaluate surgical procedures for pediatric deformity corrections, including spine deformity and clubfoot. She has coauthored several landmark publications on the biomechanics of scoliosis surgery and the outcome of clubfoot treated using minimally invasive methods.

Since 2000, she has conducted numerous cadaveric and composite biomechanical experiments for preclinical evaluation of fixation of total joint replacement components. Her focus has been on the design, performance, and initial stability assessment of joint replacement implants as well as spine arthroplasty devices.

In addition to research activities, Dr. Sangiorgio has designed and teaches a course in orthopedic biomechanics for the UCLA biomedical engineering department. This course covers the biomechanics of natural and artificial joints, and the evaluation of biomaterials for wear, tribology, biodegradation, and biocompatibility.

Education

Doctoral Degree

  • PhD in Biomedical Engineering, UCLA, 2006

Masters Degree

  • MS in Biomedical Engineering, UCLA, 2002

Undergraduate Degrees

  • BA in Liberal Arts, 3-2 Engineering Scripps College, 2000

  • BS in Biomedical-Mechanical Engineering, USC, 2000

Affiliations

  • Orthopaedic Research Society

  • North American Spine Society

Research and Publications:

  1. Zionts, L. E., Ebramzadeh, E., Morgan, R. D., & Sangiorgio, S. N. (2018). Sixty years on: Ponseti method for clubfoot treatment produces high satisfaction despite inherent tendency to relapse. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 100(9), 721-728.

  2. Beck, J. J., Sangiorgio, S. N., Jew, M. H., Marcum, T., Cooper, S. D., Ebramzadeh, E., & Zionts, L. E. (2017). Alteration in hypoplasia of the hindfoot structures during early growth in clubfeet treated using the Ponseti method. Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics, 11(6), 434-439.

  3. Dautremont, E. A., Ebramzadeh, E., Beck, J. J., Bowen, R. E., & Sangiorgio, S. N. (2017). Opioid prescription and usage in adolescents undergoing orthopaedic surgery in the United States: a systematic review. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Reviews, 5(8), e5-e5.

  4. Lang, P. J., Avoian, T., Sangiorgio, S. N., Nazif, M. A., Ebramzadeh, E., & Zionts, L. E. (2017). Quantification of the ossification of the lateral cuneiform in the feet of young children with unilateral congenital talipes equinovarus. The Bone & Joint Journal, 99(8), 1109-1114.

  5. Sangiorgio, S. N., Ebramzadeh, E., Morgan, R. D., & Zionts, L. E. (2017). The timing and relevance of relapsed deformity in patients with idiopathic clubfoot. JAAOS-Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 25(7), 536-545.

  6. Borkowski, S. L., Sangiorgio, S. N., Bowen, R. E., Scaduto, A. A., He, B., Bauer, K. L., & Ebramzadeh, E. (2016). Strength of Thoracic Spine Under Simulated Direct Vertebral Rotation: A Biomechanical Study. Spine deformity, 4(2), 85-93.

  7. Knutsen, A. R., Fleming, J. F., Ebramzadeh, E., Ho, N. C., Warganich, T., Harris, T. G., & Sangiorgio, S. N. (2017). Biomechanical comparison of fixation devices for first metatarsocuneiform joint arthrodesis. Foot & Ankle Specialist, 10(4), 322-328.

  8. Sangiorgio, S. N., Ho, N. C., Morgan, R. D., Ebramzadeh, E., & Zionts, L. E. (2016). The objective measurement of brace-use adherence in the treatment of idiopathic clubfoot. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 98(19), 1598-1605.

  9. Borkowski, S. L., Tamrazian, E., Bowen, R. E., Scaduto, A. A., Ebramzadeh, E., & Sangiorgio, S. N. (2016). Challenging the Conventional Standard for Thoracic Spine Range of Motion: A Systematic Review. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Reviews, 4(4).

  10. Knutsen, A. R., Avoian, T., Sangiorgio, S. N., Borkowski, S. L., Ebramzadeh, E., & Zionts, L. E. (2015). How do different anterior tibial tendon transfer techniques influence forefoot and hindfoot motion?. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®, 473(5), 1737-1743.

  11. Ebramzadeh, E., Campbell, P., Tan, T. L., Nelson, S. D., & Sangiorgio, S. N. (2015). Can wear explain the histological variation around metal-on-metal total hips?. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®, 473(2), 487-494.

  12. Borkowski, S. L., Sangiorgio, S. N., Bowen, R. E., Scaduto, A. A., Kwak, J., & Ebramzadeh, E. (2017). Flexibility of thoracic spines under simultaneous multi-planar loading. European Spine Journal, 26(1), 173-180.

  13. Sangiorgio, S. N., Borkowski, S. L., Bowen, R. E., Scaduto, A. A., Frost, N. L., & Ebramzadeh, E. (2013). Quantification of increase in three-dimensional spine flexibility following sequential Ponte osteotomies in a cadaveric model. Spine Deformity, 1(3), 171-178.

  14. Zionts, L. E., Frost, N., Kim, R., Ebramzadeh, E., & Sangiorgio, S. N. (2012). Treatment of idiopathic clubfoot: experience with the Mitchell-Ponseti brace. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 32(7), 706-713.

  15. Silva, M., Knutsen, A. R., Kalma, J. J., Borkowski, S. L., Bernthal, N. M., Spencer, H. T., Sangiorgio, S. H. & Ebramzadeh, E. (2013). Biomechanical testing of pin configurations in supracondylar humeral fractures: the effect of medial column comminution. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 27(5), 275-280.

  16. Ebramzadeh, E., Campbell, P. A., Takamura, K. M., Lu, Z., Sangiorgio, S. N., Kalma, J. J., … & Amstutz, H. C. (2011). Failure modes of 433 metal-on-metal hip implants: how, why, and wear. Orthopedic Clinics, 42(2), 241-250.

See all Dr. Sophia Sangiorgio’s publications on PubMed