The Orthopedic Functional Imaging Research Laboratory (OFIRL) was founded in 2020 under the direction of Dr. Cesar de Cesar Netto, MD, PhD. It's goal is to advance the understanding of orthopedic care through functional imaging techniques like weightbearing CT, pedobarography, ultrasound, and more, with focus on Foot and Ankle Surgery. Our lab partnered with Curvebeam to obtain the first 3D weightbearing images of the entire lower extremity (including the hip) in the world, using the Curvebeam HiRise System. This low dose weightbearing CT scanner has enabled us to take on projects evaluating combined deformities of the entire lower extremity, as well as isolated foot and ankle pathologies such as progressive collapsing foot deformity (PCFD, aka "flatfoot"), cavovarus deformities, diabetic foot ulcers and Charcot arthropathy, and high-ankle sprains/syndesmotic injuries. The system also allows imaging of the upper extremity, including hand, wrist and elbow.

The partnership with Disior and its Bonelogic software has allowed the lab to perform automatic segmentation of the foot and ankle bones in a large scale, and enabled capabilities to perform several automatic measurements in the foot and ankle, including distance mapping techniques. It also allowed initial studies on topics such as hip dysplasia and ligamentous injuries in the wrist.

The partnership with Paragon28 has optimized our capabilities of studying the role of surgical corrections in foot and ankle deformities such as Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity using a simulated weight bearing cadaveric model.

We look forward to continuing to expand our capabilities and collaborations.