Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children recently announced the establishment of a new research center, the Center for Excellence in Clubfoot Research, which is dedicated to the study of clubfoot. Directed by Dr. Steve Richards, the center facilitates extensive research into clubfoot – its cause, the effectiveness of nonoperative and operative treatments and the study of gait patterns in clubfoot patients.
Each year, TSRHC has more than 1,000 clubfoot-related clinic visits. The hospital is the leader among a small number of facilities in the nation that provide two nonoperative treatment methods for patients with clubfeet. According to Dr. Richards, these methods have been shown to be very effective and are most successful if the treatment begins early in the newborn period.
“Our hope for the future is that through research, we are able to find some way to actually diminish the incidence of babies born with clubfeet†Dr. Richards said. Physicians at TSRHC hope that through their continued research, they can continue evaluating the results of various treatment methods. The center will provide researchers the opportunity to collaborate with bioengineers, researchers in the hospital’s movement science and molecular genetics labs, orthotists and other experts in the field to measure patients’ strength, joint range of motion and gait patterns following treatment, as well as explore possible causes of the condition.
About TSRHC:
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is one of the nation’s leading pediatric centers for the treatment of orthopedic conditions, certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. There is no charge to patient families for treatment at the hospital, and admission is open to Texas children from birth to 18 years of age. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please call (214) 559-5000 or (800) 421-1121 or visit www.tsrhc.org.
