Department of
Orthopaedics

Dietz Lab

Research Interests

  • Implant Associated Infections
  • Tissue Response to infection
  • Biofilms and Orthopaedic Implants
  • Novel Diagnostic and therapeutic technologies to treat Implant Associated infections

Dietz Group Research

Treatment options for patients with prosthetic joint infection are significantly limited and have failure rates that are unacceptable.  The emotional, physical and financial costs, along with morbidity and mortality associated with this devastating complication demand improvements that will only be made possible through a team approach of clinicians and scientists working together to find a solution. 

Our laboratory focuses on improving our clinical abilities to treat implant associated infection with a primary focus on prosthetic joint infection (PJI).  This work has led to understanding the limitations in current treatments surrounding PJI. Along with Dr. Jonathan Boyd, Dr. Dietz is focusing on improving our abilities to perform an adequate debridement at the time of surgery by identifying the spatial relationship of biomarkers associated with infection along assessing vascularity with laser assisted fluorescence.  Dr. Dietz is also a co-inventor of a novel drug delivery implant that aims to improve treatment success while shortening treatment duration. We are also exploring new mechanisms to assist in the biophysical disruption of biofilms once established on implants. Dr. Dietz is currently in the Department of Orthopaedics but also has an joint appointment in the Department of  Microbiology, Immunology and Cell biology and is affiliated with the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis graduate program.

We are currently accepting graduate students to joint our laboratory.

If you are interested in joining the Dietz Lab Group, please contact:

Basic Sciences:  Elizabeth Stewart elizabeth.stewart@hsc.wvu.edu

Clinical Research:  Jenn Eicher (jeicher@hsc.wvu.edu

Current Research Projects

  • The relationship of biomarkers and fluorescence in prosthetic joint infections
  • Preclinical assessment of an active antibiotic spacer
  • Reducing biofilm in prosthetic joint infections

 Personnel 

PI: Matthew J. Dietz, MD

Matthew J. Dietz, MD FAOA, is an associate professor with tenure at West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and secondary appointment in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology.   His research focuses on improving the treatment of patients suffering from prosthetic joint infection.  We have taken a multi-focused approach to try and do this by better understanding the landscape in which the infection occurs through analyzing the inflammatory response spatially in the infected environment. He also works to improve adjuvant diagnostics and therapies to improve treatment regimens and improve outcomes.  His lab has also developed novel device through the use of additive manufacturing the deliver a personalized treatment solution for patients. He has been awarded an NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases (NIAMS) K08 Career Development Award (K08 AR073921-01) to support his research around the spatial relationship of Fluorescence and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Prosthetic Joint Infections.  He has also received research support through the National Science Foundation (NSF) exploring novel drug delivery devices and commercialization of novel technology.

Dr. Dietz has mentored multiple graduate, medical and undergraduate students to successful national presentations, publications, grant funding and advanced career placement.  He serves on multiple dissertation committees.  

His clinical practice currently focuses on routine and complicated primary hip and knee arthroplasties along with complex revisions. He completed his undergraduate training at Washington and Jefferson College (Washington, PA), received his MD from Temple University School of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA), and went on to an orthopaedic residency at West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV). His longstanding interest in orthopaedic research and, in particular, implant related infections,  prosthetic joint infections, and applications of new technology to total joint arthroplasty started during a research fellowship.  During his residency he elected to complete an additional year of training (2007-2008)  in which he worked as research fellow in the WVU Orthopaedic Lab.  He also completed a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at Harvard Medical School’s Orthopaedic Program at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA). 

He is a member of American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) taking an active role on their national research committee, a member of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) and a Fellow in the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and was voted a as a member of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA).  

Research Assistant: Elizabeth Stewart, M.S.

Elizabeth received her Master’s Degree in Range Science in 2018 from Utah State University and has been an integral part of Dr. Dietz’s lab since May of 2018. She coordinates and manages basic science projects for the lab and handles most of the day to day bench work and analysis.

 

Student: Nour Bouji, Graduate Student

Nour joined the lab in January of 2021. She is a graduate student pursuing a PhD in the Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Program at West Virginia University. Her primary interests reside in the field of Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis.

Paris Taylor

Student: Paris Taylor, Graduate Student

Paris earned her Bachelors of Science in Biology from Louisiana State University in December of 2020. She moved to Morgantown in August of 2021 to join the Biomedical Sciences PhD program at WVU School of Medicine. In January of 2022, Paris committed to the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis program and joined our lab to complete her thesis research. Her primary interest is focused on establishing novel strategies for eradicating Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on prosthetic joint hardware. 

Lab Alumni

Graduate Students

  • Kortney Frame (2018): PharmD Student at West Virginia University
  • Jason Kang, MD/PhD Candidate (2017 – 2019): PhD student at West Virginia University
  • Ashley McCracken (2017 – 2018): Ohio Wesleyan University
  • Siddharth Sharma (2015): PhD Student at the University of Louisville

Clinical Fellows

  • Arbi Nazarian, MD (2018 – 2019): Clinical Instructor at the University of California San Francisco
  • Lindsey Bravin, MD (2017 – 2018): Orthopaedic Surgeon at the University of Missouri Health Care
  • Patrick Gilligan, MD (2019-2020): Orthopaedic Surgeon, Lovelace Medical Group

Medical Students/Residents

  • Joe Hare, MD (2018 – 2020): Orthopaedic Resident at the University of Kentucky
  • Arbi Nazarian, MD (2018 – 2019): Clinical Instructor at the University of California San Francisco
  • Justin Vaida, MD (2018 – 2019): Orthopaedic Resident at West Virginia University
  • Shelby Sievers, MD (2018): Pediatric Resident at MSUC Children’s Hospital
  • Kortney Frame (2018): PharmD Student at West Virginia University
  • Jacob Mascaro (2018): Medical Student at West Virginia University
  • Mouazz Haffar, MD (2017 – 2020): Internal Medicine Intern at the University of Louisville
  • Anthony Machi, MD (2017 – 2019): Orthopaedic Resident at Einstein Hospital
  • Obadah Moushmoush (2017 – 2019): Ophthalmology Resident at West Virginia University
  • Jason Kang, MD/PhD Candidate (2017 – 2019): PhD student at West Virginia University
  • Justin Ray, MD (2017 – 2018): Orthopaedic Resident at West Virginia University
  • Ashley McCracken (2017 – 2018): Ohio Wesleyan University
  • Lindsey Bravin, MD (2017 – 2018): Orthopaedic Surgeon at the University of Missouri Health Care
  • Vic Greco, MD: Orthopaedic Resident at Allegheny General Hospital
  • Luke Roberts, MD (2017): Obstetrics-Gynecology at Maine Medical Center
  • Edward Prange, MD (2017): General Surgery at the University of Florida
  • Tyler Calkins, MD (2017): Resident Physician at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics
  • Brian Grisez, MD (2016 – 2017): Orthopaedic Resident at West Virginia University
  • Trey Vanek, MD (2016): Anesthesiology Resident at West Virginia University
  • Emily Ernest (2015 – 2019): Medical Student at West Virginia University
  • Phillip Bostian, MD (2015 – 2016): Orthopaedic Resident at West Virginia University
  • Siddharth Sharma (2015): PhD Student at the University of Louisville
  • Ryan Lunden, MD (2015): Orthopaedic Resident at West Virginia University
  • Jonathan Karnes, MD (2014 – 2015): Spine Fellow at the University of Wisconsin
  • Daniel Sprando, MD (2014): General Surgery Resident at West Virginia University
  • Andrew Hanselman, MD (2013 – 2014): Foot and Ankle Surgeon at Duke University

Publications

  1. Frye BM, Patton C, Kinney JA, Murphy TR, Klein AE, Dietz MJ.  A Medial Congruent Polyethylene Offers Satisfactory Early Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction in Total Knee Arthrolasty.  Arthroplasty Today.  DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artd.2020.11.003.  Published online: Dec 19 2020.
  2. Brown TS, Bedard NA, Rojas EO, Anthony CA, Schwarzkopf R, Stambough JB, Nandi S, Prieto H, Parvizi J, Bini SA, Higuera CA, Piuzzi NS, Blankstein M, Wellman SS, Dietz MJ, Jennings JM, Dasa V; AAHKS Research Committee.  A Brief Update on the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients in the United States.  A Multicenter Update to a Previous Survey Study of Patients Postponed by the Pandemic.  Arthroplasty Today. DOI: 10.1016/j.artd.2020.11.025.  PMID: 33294537
  3. Prince N, Penatzer JA, Dietz MJ, Boyd JW.  Tissue-level of Cytokines in a Rodent Model of Chronic Implant-Associated Infection.  J Orthop Res. 2020 Dec 7. doi: 10.1002/jor.24940.   PMID 33283316.
  4. Bostian PA, Ray JJ, Karolcik BA, Bramer MA, Wilson A, Dietz MJ. Thromboelastography is predictive of mortality, blood transfusions, and blood loss in patients with traumatic pelvic fractures: a retrospective cohort study.  Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg.  Nov 11. doi: 10.1007/s00068-020-01533-8. PMID: 33175987
  5. Prince N, Penatzer JA, Dietz MJ, Boyd JW.  Localized cytokine responses to total knee arthroplasty and total knee revision complications.  J Transl Med. 2020 Aug 31;18(1):330. doi: 10.1186/s12967-020-02510-w. PMID: 32867801.
  6. Prince N, Penatzer, JA, Dietz, MJ, Boyd, JW. Impact of Cytokines and Phosphoproteins in Response to Chronic Joint Infection. Biology. 2020 Jul 16, 9(7), 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology9070167 PMID 32708756.
  7. Parvizi J, Gehrke T, Krueger CA, Chisari E, Citak M, Van Onsem S, Walter WL; International Consensus Group (ICM; Dietz MJ) and Research Committee of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS; Dietz MJ).  Resuming Elective Orthopaedic Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidelines Developed by the International Consensus Group (ICM).  J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2020 May 14. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.20.00844.  PMID: 32412924.
  8. Dietz MJ, Ray JJ, Witten BG, Frye BM, Klein AE, Lindsey BA.  Portable compression devices in total joint arthroplasty; poor outpatient compliance. Arthroplasty Today.  2020 Mar 6;6(1):118-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artd.2019.12.004.  PMID: 32211487
  9. Bravin LN, Ernest EP, Dietz MJ, Frye BM.  Liposomal Bupivicaine Offers No Benefit Over Ropivicaine for Multimodal Periarticular Injection in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Orthopedics. 2020 Mar 1;43(2):91-96.   doi: 10.3928/01477447-20191223-01.  PMID: 31881086  -- Editors Blue Ribbon Award.
  10. Dietz MJ, Moushmoush O, Samora WP, Kish VL, Hamlin BR.  The Effect of Increasing Femoral Head Size on the Force Required for Dislocation.   Surg Technol Int. 2019 Nov 10; 35. 426-429. PMID: 31282981
  11. Lastinger A, McLeod N, Dietz MJ, Guilfoose J, Sarwari AR.  Clinical Experience with Tigecycline in the Treatment of Prosthetic Joint Infections. J Bone Jt Infect. 2019 May 21;4(3):126-132. doi: 10.7150/jbji.34866. eCollection 2019. PMID: 31192112
  12. Kang J, Dietz MJ, Li B.  Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.   PLoS One. 2019 Jun 6;14(6):e0216676. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216676. eCollection 2019.  PMID: 31170191
  13. Dietz MJ, Klein AE, Lindsey BA, Duncan ST, Eicher JM, Gillig JD, Smith BR, Steele GD.  Posterior Hip Precautions Do Not Impact Early Recovery in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Study.  J Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2019 Jul;34(7S):S221-S227.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2019.02.057. Epub 2019 Mar 13. PMID: 30975478.
  14. FAITH-2 Investigators (Dietz M), Slobogean GP, Sprague S, Bzovsky S, Heels-Ansdell D, Thabane L, Scott T, Bhandari M.  Fixation using alternative implants for the treatment of hip fractures (FAITH-2): design and rationale for a pilot multi-centre 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial in young femoral neck fracture patients.  Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2019 May 28;5:70. doi: 10.1186/s40814-019-0458-x. eCollection 2019.  PMID 31161044.
  15. Kang J, Dietz MJ, Hughes K, Xing M, Li B.  Silver nanoparticles present high intracellular and extracellular killing against Staphylococcus aureus.  J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 Feb 18. pii: dkz053. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkz053.PMID: 30778552.
  16. Dietz MJ, Bostian PA, Ernest EP, Klein AE, LaSala PR, Frye BM, Lindsey BA. Rate of Contaminated Operative Surfaces during Revision of Total Joint Arthroplasty.  Arthroplasty Today.   2018 Oct 29;5(1):96-99. doi: 10.1016/j.artd.2018.09.007. eCollection 2019 Mar.  PMID: 31020031.
  17. Abouljoud MM, Backstein D, Battenberg A, Dietz M, et al.   Hip and Knee Section, Treatment, Surgical Technique: Proceedings of International Consensus on Orthopedic Infections.  J Arthroplasty.  2018 Oct 19  doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2018.09.029 PMID: 30348548.
  18. Aalirezaie A, Anoushiravani A, Cashman J, Choon D, Danoff J, Dietz M, Gold P, Schwarzkopf R, Sheehan E, Vigante D.  General Assembly, Prevention, Host Risk Mitigation - Local Factors: Proceedings of International Consensus on Orthopedic Infections.  J Arthroplasty. 2018 Oct 18. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2018.09.051   PMID: 30343966.
  19. Dietz MJ, Hare JT, Ueno C, Prudhomme BJ, Boyd JW. Laser Assisted Fluorescent Angiography to Assess Tissue Perfusion in the Setting of Traumatic Elbow Dislocation. WOUNDS: A Compendium of Clinical Research and Practice. 2018 Oct; 30(10: E93-E97.
  20. Dietz MJ.  CORR Insights: The John N. Insall Award Higher Tissue Concentrations of Vancomycin Achieved with Intraosseous Regional Prophylaxis in Revision TKA. A Randomized Controlled Trial.  Clin Orthop Rel Res. 2018 476: 75-76.
  21. Allison JE, Lastinger AM, Guilfoose JA, Dietz MJ.  Suppressive Oral Antibiotics in Orthopaedic Prosthetic Joint Infections.  West Virginia Medical Journal –OA. 2018 Jan (1-7); doi: 10.21885/wvmj.2018.1.
  22. Ernest EP, Machi AS, Karolcik BA, Dietz MJ. Topical Adjuvants incompletely remove adherent Staphylococcus aureus from implant materials.  J Orthop Res. 2017 Nov; doi: 10.1002/jor.23804.   PMID 29139579.
  23. Lastinger A, Dietz MJ, Guilfoose J, Sarwari AR.  Clinical Experience with Tigecycline in the Treatment of Prosthetic Joint Infection.  Open Forum Infectious Diseases.  2017 Oct; (Suppl_1): S98.
  24. Grisez BT, Calkins TE, Dietz MJ.  Modular Femoral Stems in Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty.  Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics.  2017 Sep: 27(3): 178-185.
  25. Joseph EG, Ernest EP, Dietz MJ. Complicated Total Knee Arthroplasty in Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome.  JBJS Case Connector. 2017 Sep 27;  7(3): e73. PMID:  29244707. 
  26. Dietz MJ, Sprando D, Hanselman A, Regier M, Frye BM. Smartphone Assessment of Knee Flexion Compared to Radiographic Standards.  The Knee.  2017 March; 24(2): 224-230.  PMID 28179062.
  27. DiBlasi JF, Smith RP, Garavaglia J, Quedado J, Frye BM, Dietz MJ.  Comparing Cost and Efficacy of Intravenous versus Topical Tranexamic Acid in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.  Am J Orthopedics. 2016 November/December: E439-E443. PMID 28005108
  28. Hanselman A, Montague M, Murphy TR, Dietz MJ. Contamination Relative to the Activation Timing of Filtered-Exhaust Helmets.  J of Arthroplasty. 2016 Apr;31(4):776-80.  PMID: 26684270
  29. Tidwell JE, Dawson-andoh B,  Adedipe EO, Nkansah K, Dietz MJ.  Characterization of Implant Associated Biofilm with Near Infrared Spectroscopy.  Clin Orthop Rel Res. 2015 Nov; 473(11): 3638-46.  PMID: 26265208.
  30. Dietz MJ, Springer BD, Barnes PD, Falcigilia MM, Friedrich AD, Berendt AR, Calhoun JH, Manner PA. Best Practices for Centers of Excellence in Addressing Periprosthetic Joint Infection. A Synopsis of the AAOS Musculoskeletal Infection:  Where are we in 2014? J of Amer Assoc Ortho Surg. 2015 March Suppl 1. PMID: 25808965
  31. Bedair H, Goyal N, Dietz MJ, Urish K, Hansen V, Manrique J, Zmistowski B, Tokarski A, Restrepo C, Deirmengian G. A History of Treated Periprosthetic Joint Infection Increases the Risk of Subsequent Different Site Infection. Clin Orthop Rel Res. 2015 Jul;473(7):2300-4.  PMID 25670654. 
  32. Dietz MJ, Choi H, Freiberg A, Bedair H. Transfer of Patient Care Between Stages of a Two-Stage Exchange for Chronic Periprosthetic Joint Infection Leads to Inferior Outcomes. J of Arthroplasty.  2014; 29 (7): 1426-9. PMID: 24581900
  33. Dietz MJ, Chase S, Burke D, Kwon YM. Novel Technique for Removal of a Broken Intracortical Screw During Total  Hip Arthroplasty. Orthopedics. 2013; 36(9): 846-9.  PMID: 24200426
  34. Hamza T, Dietz M, Pham D, Clovis N, Danley S, Li B. Intra-cellular Staphylococcus aureus Alone Causes Infection In Vivo. Eur Cell Mater. 2013; 25: 341-50.   Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association (APOA)-Pfizer Best Scientific Paper Award.  Kuching, Malaysia. August 2013.  PMID 23832687
  35. Dietz MJ, Lavender C, Emery SE, Clovis N, Shuler FD, Zuberi, J. ATV-Related Orthopaedic Trauma in North Central West Virginia: An 8-Year Review of a Level I Trauma Center. J Orthop Trauma. 2012; 26(7): e83-7.  PMID: 22337482
  36. Shuler, FD, Dietz MJ.  Physician's Ability to Manually Detect Elevations in Intra-Compartmental Pressures. J Bone Joint Surg – Am. 2010 Feb; 92: 361-367. PMID: 20124063
  37. Li B, Jiang B, Dietz MJ, Smith ES, Clovis NB, Rao M. Evaluation of Local MCP-1 and IL-12 Nanocoatings for Infection Prevention in Open Fractures. J Orthop Res. 2010 Jan; 28(1):48-54. PMID: 19588527