Our Research

Orthopedic Foot and Ankle

Patient Reported Outcome Studies:  

1. Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Outcomes Research (OFAR) Network: OFAR is a registry of patient-reported outcomes data on foot and ankle disorders and treatments. As an OFAR site, we have been collecting patient-reported outcome data using an electronic capture system.  
2. Sports Injury Registry Management and Analytics Program (SIRMAP): A PAC-12 powerful and innovative injury surveillance program that tracks injuries across member institutions in order to identify factors that contribute to risk and develop and test strategies to make intercollegiate athletes safer. We are specifically examining the incidence of lower extremity injuries after a concussion in elite athletes. 
3. Student Athlete Health Assessment (STEALTH) Project: This project explores patient reported outcomes in student athletes at the University of Colorado.  
4. Achilles Tendinopathy and Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Outcomes: A patient progress survey system assessing outcomes before and after treatments for Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis.  
5. Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Injection Outcomes: Using our patient reported outcomes electronic capture tool, we aim to characterize the indications and outcomes of PRP injections.  

Retrospective Studies:  

1. Diabetic Ankle Fracture: This project aims to stratify the risk of complications after surgical fixation of ankle fractures for diabetic patients. 
2. Cartiva Implant Outcomes: A retrospective study analyzing the outcomes of Cartiva total ankle implants.  
3. Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) Fusion: This project evaluates surgical outcomes for first MTP arthrodesis after different reaming and cutting techniques.  
4. Total Ankle Replacement: A 10-year multi-institutional retrospective analysis of total ankle replacements completed by newly fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons.  

Biomechanical Studies (Clinical Motion lab and Biomechanics lab)

1. Alter-G: This biomechanical study is focused on measuring the forces acting on the ankle while walking on an Alter-G treadmill. We hope to classify topographical information about the pressure and force on different areas of the foot at various reduced bodyweights.  
2. TightRope Effectiveness: A cadaveric biomechanical study evaluating TightRope syndesmosis repairs by comparing kinematic changes during examination.  
3. Subtle Instability Project: This project evaluates the biomechanical influence of intrinsic connections between lateral fibulotalocalcaneal ligament complex and other ligamentous components conferring ankle stability.  
4. Grade II Syndesmosis Injuries: Our aim is to classify Grade II syndesmosis injuries by comparing kinematic, radiographic, and injury pattern data.  
5. Osteochondral Defects (OCD) of the Talus: The objective of this study is to use a cadaveric biomechanical model to assess the effect of increasing size of a medial shoulder OLT on ankle joint contact mechanics, aiming to determine size thresholds that may suggest an increased risk for tissue damage and other treatment indications. 

Other Studies:  

1. Quality Assessment in Orthopedic Surgery: This project focuses on improving quality metrics used in value-based payment programs and quality improvement projects for orthopedic surgeons. 
2. Ligament Augmentation Repair: This project is a literature review and international survey-based study exploring the indications of ligament augmentation.  
3. Syndesmosis Survey: An international survey-based study aiming to form a consensus on the intraoperative and postoperative management of syndesmosis injuries.  
4. Optimizing opiate prescribing in orthopaedics: investigating the value of standardized prescribing practices for surgical patients in orthopaedics, development of tracking programs through EPIC