Karen Kruger, Ph.D., a biomedical engineer and research director of the motion analysis center at Shriners Children’s Chicago, has been awarded a $3.2M research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study flatfoot deformities at three Shriners Children’s locations over a five-year period.
Medically speaking, flatfoot occurs when the middle of the child’s foot touches the ground, when standing, instead of just the toes and heels. Most kids are born with flat feet and their arches develop as they grow. In about a quarter of children, the arch doesn’t develop correctly by age 6 — but many of these kids still have no issues playing, running and jumping.
“A lot of those children will be asymptomatic, but a subset goes on to develop pain and a collapsed arch,” said Dr. Kruger. However, children with neuromuscular conditions may be more likely to experience complications when low or high muscle tone related to their diagnosis doesn’t allow them to compensate for foot deformities. “In children with cerebral palsy, problems with flat feet may be as high as 60% to 70%,” said Dr. Kruger.
The study involves a new diagnostic tool called weight-bearing computed tomography or weight-bearing CT, which provides 3D imaging of the children’s feet. These 3D scans will offer an analytical advantage for pediatric patients whose feet are still growing. Currently, 2D X-rays cannot offer enough visualization of growth plates, which makes analysis more complicated.
This is Dr. Kruger’s first NIH grant as a principal investigator. “Dr. Kruger’s hard work and tenacity have paid off,” said Ross Chafetz, PT, DPT, Ph.D., MPH, corporate director of motion analysis centers. “She is a leader both nationally and internationally, and we are proud to have her represent Shriners Children’s.”
