3D Foot Scanner Could Change Way Foot and Ankle Problems Are Diagnosed and Treated

A new scanner may soon change the way clinicians diagnose and treat foot and ankle problems.

In the United Kingdom, this new technology for the first time will enable clinicians to view the foot and ankle in three-dimensions (3D) in a full weight-bearing position, and if necessary, in shoes--helping to identify the source of pain more effectively.


Royal National Orthopedic Hospital (RNOH; London, UK) consultant orthopedic surgeon and clinical lead of the foot and ankle unit, Dr. Dishan Singh, said, “Traditionally, we have used 2D [two-dimensional] X-rays to diagnose foot problems but this only gives us limited information. The new scanner allows us to clearly see how the foot and ankle looks and functions in a weight-bearing position, and this will help us treat patients earlier to prevent long term problems.”

University College London (UCL) specialists discovered that a number of their female patients (57%) admitted to experiencing severe foot pain caused by consistently wearing uncomfortable shoes. An additional 86% admitted that they found difficulty in finding shoes that could comfortably fit their feet.

Women who regularly wear high heels frequently experience f foot and ankle problems because body weight is transferred to the ball of the foot, adding pressure to sesamoids. Frequent wearing of high heels also squashes the toes, pushing the foot into an unnatural shape, which can cause extreme pain and possible long-term damage such as clawing of the toes.

“More than one in five GP [general practitioner] visits relates to musculoskeletal problems and many of these are for problems relating to the foot and ankle. There is an established link between high heels and foot pain, but for the first time we are able to see the effect of such shoes on feet in real time,” said RNOH consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Andy Goldberg. “In moderation high heels are fine; it’s when worn day in day out that problems could develop.”

CurveBeam’s pedCAT can scan both feet, standing in shoes or out, in less than 60 seconds and with similar radiation levels to traditional X-rays. In its first month of use at RNOH the pedCAT has already been used to scan more than 80 patients and has helped to more effectively target a number of foot and ankle disorders, including bunions, dislocations, fractures, and arthritis.

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Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital