Sub-talar Joint Motion –Where is the centre of rotation?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sub-talar Joint Motion – Where is the centre of rotation?
IRAS ID
215077
Contact name
Andy Goldberg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Innovation Centre, RNOH Stanmore
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 28 days
Research summary
The sub-talar joint describes an articulation between the talus and the calcaneus. The talus comprises of three facets which facilitate this articulation (anterior, middle and posterior). Motion within the sub-talar joint is complex. This combines dorsiflexion, abduction and eversion in one direction and plantarflexion-adduction and inversion in the other.
The sub-talar joint is the primary joint involved in motion and posture of the hindfoot in the frontal plane. The lack of external landmarks of the talus in combination with the sub-talar joint geometry has made the sub-talar joint kinematics difficult to investigate.
At present however the centre of rotation of the subtalar joint is unknown. Several foot and ankle disorders manifest with forces rotating the sub-talar joint. These include varus and valgus deformities secondary to cerebral palsy, equino varus clubfoot and adult acquired flatfoot deformity.
In our study we will investigate the centre of rotation of the sub-talar joint.
We will be testing the hypothesis that in a normal healthy individual, there is a single axis of rotation of the posterior facet of the sub-talar joint, centred around the middle facet.
Identification of this will further our understanding of in-vivo sub-talar joint kinematics. This is important for the evaluation of sub-talar joint instability, the design of a sub-talar prosthesis and for analysing surgical procedures of the ankle and hindfoot.We hope to do this by scanning the feet of healthy adult participants using a low radiation CT scanner. We anticipate that it will take 3 months to recruit, scan and analyse the data.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/2015
Date of REC Opinion
13 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion