FuMo – Analysis of the influence of different osteotomy approaches on the morphology of the feet

Due to a civilization-dependent change, an increasing number of pathological changes of the foot can be determined, which reflects in a clearly higher therapeutic expenditure. The flat valgus foot is manifested already in the infancy, first as a physiological flat valgus foot. In case of a missing correction there exists the possibility that it changes into a pathological deformation. Today, many factors are controversially discussed as a cause for the development of the flat valgus foot. Currently, the etiology is not final clarified. Additive, subtractive, and shifting osteotomies are established intervention procedures, which are used for the treatment of innate and acquired flat valgus feet. It is possible, depending on the state of the morphological changes of the foot, to do a combination of osteotomy approaches or to realize just one specific approach. The relative or absolute extension of the lateral side of the foot leads to a reorientation of the joint surfaces, whereas a shifting osteotomy leads to a changed and corrected direction of the tendons of the foot muscles.

In the context of a co-operation between the MediTEC and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University Hospital Aachen, the goal of this project is the development of an experimental test setup for the investigation of different therapy approaches, and furthermore, the interventional influences in the context of a motion analysis, and a biomechanical analysis. These investigations should assist the understanding of the effects of the correcting, interventional operations, and their influence on the biomechanics of the foot. Additionally, the generated results should be transferred to a multi-body-simulation model, in order to obtain information about force and motion patterns. This should be the basis for a model-based therapy planning in foot surgery, which allows the surgeon to obtain pre-operative information about effects of the planned intervention, ensuring an optimal planning and realization of the osteotomy intervention.