The University of Iowa Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation is enrolling patients with lower extremity deformities for clinical research using the CurveBeam LineUP, a weight-bearing CT system that allows the assessment of the knee, leg, ankle, and foot in the same images. This technology produces 3D images for a more complete analysis of bone alignment information.

UI Health Care is the first center in Iowa to offer LineUP to patients. It’s also the only center in Iowa to offer all patients the PedCat weight-bearing CT system for foot and ankle evaluation.

The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society recommends weight-bearing imaging to get the most accurate assessment of functional and physiological bony anatomy of the foot and ankle. Previously, the only weight-bearing imaging available to patients was conventional radiograph, which provides 2D images and, depending on the number of radiographic incidences needed, subjects patients to higher doses of radiation than the cone beam technology used in weight-bearing CT systems.

UI orthopedic surgeon Cesar de Cesar Netto, MD, PhD, whose research of weight-bearing CT includes publication in Skeletal Radiology, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and Foot & Ankle International, says weight-bearing CT offers more accuracy for a range of uses.

“Because a weight-bearing CT exam provides 3D bone information of the lower extremity under physiological load, the evaluation of complex deformities is much more accurate than on a conventional radiograph,” de Cesar Netto says. “In addition, the fact that we can now include the knee and the leg in the assessment makes this imaging tool even more complete. Knee pathologies, high ankle sprains, flatfoot and cavus-varus deformities, midfoot injuries, and even hallux valgus can be assessed with more accuracy. Surgeons can plan for surgery with more certainty and confidence. Post-surgery, doctors can also better determine healing of foot, ankle, and knee deformity corrections.”