INSIDE-BONE Study

Information about the Study

Understanding bone growth is a challenge that has long occupied doctors and researchers. Bone health is not only an important issue in old age, but also during childhood and adolescence, especially throughout growth phases. Torsional bony deformities are abnormalities in the rotation or twisting of bones, particularly long bones like the femur or tibia which occur when the bone does not grow or develop correctly along its natural axis. Understanding how mechanical loads influence bone growth is key to improving mobility and preserving health.

The ERC-funded Inside-Bone project aims to explore the relationship between mechanical loading, bone growth, and femoral morphology in children with typical development and those with torsional deformities. We want to better understand what influences bone growth by observing a sample of growing children over several years to one day detect pathological growth early and take preventive action. For this purpose, children with and without idiopathic deformities of the femur are invited to participate in the study.

The goal is to develop a model that incorporates muscle forces, joint loads, and the stresses on the growth plate to predict how a bone will grow. The necessary data for this includes a motion analysis and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

With the help of these growth models, we hope to proactively address rotational deformities of the femur in the future and avoid reactive surgeries. Based on these models, we aim to develop targeted preventive measures such as personalized real-time feedback for gait training.

Participate

Would you like to support the project or learn more about participation opportunities? Further information and a non-binding registration form can be found on the following pages.