We are delighted to reveal a new paper having been recently published online by Foot & Ankle International, which aims to analyze hindfoot alignment (HFA) in patients with CLAI using weight-bearing cone beam computed tomography (WBCT) to assess this risk.
Publication Title:
Relationship Between Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability and Hindfoot Varus Using Weight-Bearing Cone Beam Computed Tomography.
Publication Authors:
François Lintz, MD, FEBOT, Alessio Bernasconi, MD, Louise Baschet, MSc, Céline Fernando, MS, PhD, Nazim Mehdi, MD, the Weight Bearing CT International Study Group, and Cesar de Cesar Netto, MD, PhD
The International WBCT Society Board Members and co-authors of the publication, Dr François Lintz and Dr Cesar de Cesar Netto reflect on the inspiration behind the study, highlight the results and talk about the international collaboration which ultimately helped the study come to life.
"This study was inspired amongst other things by a prior study: CT analysis of hindfoot alignment in chronic lateral ankle instability. Van Bergeyk AB, Younger A, Carson B.. Foot Ankle Int. 2002 Jan;23(1):37-42.
The authors had foreseen the relationship between hind foot alignment and chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). They had succeeded in demonstrating increased odds ratio of developing the pathology in case of varus hind foot deformity.We hypothesised that Weight bearing cone beam CT would be successful in confirming these findings but also in providing a more personalised assessment depending on the importance of the deformity. We succeeded in demonstrating a strong correlation and close to mathematical relationship between hindfoot varus and CLAI. We found that a 1% increase in hindfoot varus increases the risk of CLAI by 15 %. In our mind, it is important to state here that Weight bearing CT makes this possible by enabling the collection of both clinical and imaging data on a daily basis. For now this is done semi automatically but soon enough the basics exposed in the article will serve as the initial building blocks of Machine learning and personalised assessment of diagnosis and prognosis. We are confident that as the technology improves and as Data accumulates, more studies will be published with a strong output even with a retrospective design. We are very pleased with the friendly, yet focused international relationship within the International WBCT Society, which made this study possible."
François Lintz, MD, FEBOT
Treasurer, International WBCT Society
Cesar de Cesar Netto, MD, PhD
Board Member, International WBCT Society
For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/2NuOn6c