Foot and Ankle Research & Innovation Lab

The Mass General Foot and Ankle Research and Innovation Lab (FARIL) is a groundbreaking initiative by the MGH foot and ankle service focused on pioneering breakthroughs in foot and ankle research and innovation that will directly impact the care of the foot and ankle patients. Led by Dr. Christopher W. DiGiovanni and Bart Lubberts MD, PhD, researchers are considering the biggest issues facing foot and ankle care today. Specifically, our research addresses how to diagnose and treat complex foot injuries such as fifth metatarsal fracture, syndesmotic instability and Lisfranc injuries.

Perhaps the most important quality of FARIL is its ability to integrate all aspects of Foot and Ankle care by incorporating every facet of research. From top institutions in the US to internationally recognized academia, FARIL researchers bring their diverse training and experience to create new tests and treatments. FARIL also brings together organizations (MGH research institute, AOFAS) and industry leaders to implement new technology used to treat foot and ankle injuries. With patient care at its center, FARIL brings every component of foot and ankle research to one cutting-edge location. FARIL is an offsite Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School affiliated Laboratory.

Right now, researchers are pioneering new ultrasound techniques to create a dynamic picture of the ankle. This will allow physicians to accurately diagnose ankle injuries that would have previously been difficult or even impossible to recognize without surgery. The lab is also developing new treatment methods for common foot and ankle problems. New arthroplasty techniques and equipment are being established to improve and perfect total ankle replacement. Biomechanic studies are being undertaken to improve surgical techniques and reduce recovery time. These are just some of the ways FARIL leads the way in foot and ankle research.

If you are interested in getting involved in the lab, please send your CV and letter of recommendation to Bart Lubberts MD PhD.

Current Fields of Research

• Foot and Ankle biomechanics and kinematics
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Outcomes and Translational research
• Surgical techniques (open and arthroscopic)
• Joint preservation and salvage
• Venous Thromboembolic diseases

Research Positions

The Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Foot and Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory is a platform for innovation, research and education and creates a unique environment were clinicians, researchers, and engineers work together and share their expertise. This stimulates high quality and clinical relevant research. During your time at our service you get to opportunity to do clinical - and biomechanical research, to assist with grant applications, and to secure one or more first author publications. These opportunities are utilized in our areas of expertise: Arthroscopic assessment of the foot and ankle, diagnostic evaluation of foot and ankle disorders using ultrasound, and prophylactic strategies for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in foot and ankle patients.

We offer three academic positions:

1. Research Internship position for at least 10 weeks (part-time or full time) (unpaid position)

Qualifications:

• Medical student
• USA Citizen
• Basic knowledge on biostatistics
• Programming skills are preferred

2. International Research Fellow position for 1 to 2 years (unpaid position)

Qualifications:

• MD (3-5 years of experience) or PhD candidate
• Excellent proficiency of the English language
• At least 2 peer-reviewed publications as first or second author
• Basic knowledge on biostatistics
• Programming skills are preferred

3. Research Fellow or Post-Doc position for at least 2.5 years

Qualifications:

• MD or MD/PhD USA Citizen
• At least 3 peer-reviewed publications as first or second author
• Solid knowledge on biostatistics
• Interest in diagnostic evaluation of foot and ankle disorders using ultrasound
• Interest in artificial intelligence
• Aims for a long-term career in academic medicine
• Aims to obtain an appointment at Harvard Medical School
• Basic programming skills are preferred

How To Apply

Please send your resume/CV and letter of interest to Bart Lubberts MD, PhD at blubberts@mgh.harvard.edu.

Selected Publications

Lisfranc

McHale KJ, Vopat BG, Beaulieu-Jones BR, Sanchez G, Whalen JM, McDonald LS, DiGiovanni CW, Theodore GH, Provencher MT. Epidemiology and Outcomes of Lisfranc Injuries Identified at the National Football League Scouting Combine. Am J Sports Med. 2017; 45(8):1901-1908.

Kriz P, Rafferty J, Evangelista P, Van Valkenburg S, DiGiovanni C. Stress fracture of the second metatarsal and sprain of the lisfranc joint in a pre-professional ballet dancer. J Dance Med Sci. 2015; 19(2):80-85.

Syndesmosis

Lubberts B, Guss D, Vopat BG, Johnson AH, van Dijk CN, Lee H., DiGiovanni CW. Quantification of Stable and Unstable Injuries of the Ankle Syndesmosis using Arthroscopic Measurements. KSSTA (In print)

Massri-Pugin J, Lubberts B, Vopat BG, Wolf JC, DiGiovanni CW, Guss D. Role of the Deltoid Ligament in Syndesmotic Instability. Foot Ankle Int. 2018 May;39(5):598-603.

Massri-Pugin J, Lubberts B, Vopat BG, Guss D, Hosseini A, DiGiovanni CW. Effect of Sequential Sectioning of Ligaments on Syndesmotic Instability in the Coronal Plane Evaluated Arthroscopically. Foot Ankle Int. 2017 Dec;38(12):1387-1393.

Vopat ML, Vopat BG, Lubberts B, DiGiovanni CW. Current trends in the diagnosis and management of syndesmotic injury. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2017 Mar;10(1):94-103.

Lubberts B, Bengtsson H, D’Hooghe P, DiGiovanni CW, Calder J, Ekstrand J: Epidemiology and return to play following isolated syndesmotic injuries of the ankle: a prospective cohort study of 3677 male professional footballers in the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study. Accepted, Br J Sports Med, Oct 2017.

Massri J, Lubberts B, Vopat B, Guss D, Hosseini A, DiGiovanni CW: Arthroscopic syndesmotic instability in the coronal plane: what must be injured and where we must look to diagnose it properly? Accepted, Foot Ankle Int, July 2017.

Lubberts B, Guss D, Vopat BG, Wolf JC, Moon DK, DiGiovanni CW. The effect of ankle distraction on arthroscopic evaluation of syndesmotic instability: A cadaveric study. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2017 Sep 28;50:16-20. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2017.09.013.

Lubberts B, Vopat BG, Wolf JC, Longo UG, DiGiovanni CW, Guss D. Arthroscopically measured syndesmotic stability after screw vs. suture button fixation in a cadaveric model. Injury. 2017 Aug 31. pii: S0020-1383(17)30585-5. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.08.066.

Vopat B, Beaulieu-Jones BR, Waryasz G, McHale KJ, Sanchez G, Logan CA, Whalen JM, DiGiovanni CW, Provencher MT. Epidemiology of Navicular Injury at the NFL Combine and Their Impact on an Athlete's Prospective NFL Career. Orthop J Sports Med. 2017 Aug 18;5(8):2325967117723285. doi: 10.1177/2325967117723285.

Lubberts B, van Dijk PAD, Calder J, DiGiovanni CW. There is no best surgical treatment for chronic isolated syndesmotic instability: a systematic review. Accepted, J ISAKOS, 2016 epub.

Peroneal Injuries

Res LCS, Dixon T, Lubberts B, Vicentini JRT, van Dijk PA, Hosseini A, Guss D, DiGiovanni CW. Peroneal Tendon Tears: We Should Consider Looking at the Muscle Instead. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2018 Aug 22.

Van Dijk PAD, Lubberts B, Verheul C, DiGiovanni CW, Kerkhoffs GMMJ. Rehabilitation after surgical treatment of peroneal tendon tears and ruptures. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 2016;24:1165-1174. doi:10.1007/s00167-015-3944-6.

DiGiovanni CW, Langer P. The Role of Isolated Gastrocnemius and Combined Achilles Contractures in the Flatfoot. Foot and Ankle Clinics. Volume 12, Issue 2,2007.Pages 363-379,ISSN 1083-7515.

Kennedy G, van Dijk PAD, Murawski CD, Duke G, Newman H, DiGiovanni CW, Yasui Y. Functional outcomes after peroneal tendoscopy in treatment of peroneal tendon disorders. ESSKA. 2016 Jan 19. DOI 10.1007/s00167-016-4012-6.

Fusion & Arthroplasty

Younger ASE, Baumhauer JF, Daniels T, Krause F, Glazebrook M, Evangelista P, Donahue R, Pinzur M, Thevendran G, DiGiovanni CW. Clinical outcome of nonunions in hindfoot and ankle fusions. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016.

DiGiovanni CW, Lin SS, Daniels TR, Glazebrook M, Evangelista P, Donahue R, Beasley W, Baumhauer JF. The importance of sufficient graft material in achieving foot or ankle fusion. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016; 98(15): 1260-7.

Daniels TR, Younger AS, Penner MJ, Wing KJ, Le IL, Russell IS, Lalonde KA, Evangelista PT, Quilton JD, Glazebrook M, DiGiovanni CW. Prospective randomized controlled trial of hindfoot and ankle fusions treated with rhPDGF-BB in combination with a beta-TCP-collagen matrix. Foot Ankle Int. 2015; 36(7):739-48.

Macaulay AA, Vanvalkenburg SM, DiGiovanni CW. Sport and activity restrictions following total ankle replacement: a survey of orthopaedic foot and ankle specialists. Foot Ankle Surg. 2015; 21(4):260-265.

Sports Injury

Stavenuiter XJR, Lubberts B, Prince RM 3rd, Johnson AH, DiGiovanni CW, Guss D. “Postoperative Complications Following Repair of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture.” Foot Ankle Int. 2019 Feb 27.

Kaiser P, Guss D, DiGiovanni CW: Stress fractures of the foot and ankle in sports. Accepted, Foot Ankle Int, Oct 2017.

Drakos MC, Fiore R, Murphy C, DiGiovanni CW. Plantar plate disruptions: “The severe turf toe injury.” Three cases in contact athletes. J Athl Train. 2015; 50(5):553-560.

Vopat B, Beaulieu-Jones BR, Waryasz G, et al. Epidemiology of Navicular Injury at the NFL Combine and Their Impact on an Athlete’s Prospective NFL Career. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017;5(8):2325967117723285. doi:10.1177/2325967117723285.

Waryasz G, Van Valkenburg S, DiGiovanni CW. Technique tip: use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy after complex foot and ankle reconstruction. Tech Foot Ankle Surg. 2015;14(2):104-110.

Venous Thromboembolism

Heijboer RRO, Lubberts B, van Dijk PAD, Vopat BG, Johnson AH, Guss D, DiGiovanni CW. The Validity of Using ICD-9-CM Codes for Identifying Venous Thromboembolism Following Below Knee Surgery. The Orthopaedic Journal at Harvard Medical School 2016;17:18-23.

Heijboer RRO, Lubberts B, Guss D, Johnson AH, DiGiovanni CW. Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Venous Thromboembolism After Orthopaedic Below-knee Surgery. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2018 Oct 4.

Chien B, Dixon T, Guss D, DiGiovanni CW: VTED Prophylaxis in Foot and Ankle Surgery. Accepted, Orthop Clin NA, Aug 2017.

Prince RM 3rd, Lubberts B, Buda M, Guss D, DiGiovanni CW. Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism after Non-Operatively Treated Foot or Ankle Injury. J Orthop Res. 2018 Oct 1.

Lubberts B, Paulino Pereira NR, Kabrhel C, Kuter DJ, DiGiovanni CW. What is the effect of venous thromboembolism and related complications on patient reported health-related quality of life? A meta-analysis. Thromb Haemost. 2016 Jun 30; 116(3).

Heijboer RRO, Lubberts B, van Dijk PAD, Vopat BG, Johnson AH, Guss D, DiGiovanni CW. The Validity of Using ICD-9-CM Codes for Identifying Venous Thromboembolism Following Below Knee Surgery. The Orthopaedic Journal at Harvard Medical School 2016;17:18-23.

Res LCS, Lubberts B, Shah SH, DiGiovanni CW. Health-related quality of life after adverse bleeding events associated with antithrombotic drug therapy - A systematic review. Hellenic J Cardiol. 2018 Jul 24. pii: S1109-9666(18)30131-3.

Heijboer RRO, Lubberts B, Guss D, Johnson AH, DiGiovanni CW. Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Venous Thromboembolism After Orthopaedic Below-knee Surgery. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2018 Oct 4.

Prince RM 3rd, Lubberts B, Buda M, Guss D, DiGiovanni CW. Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism after Non-Operatively Treated Foot or Ankle Injury. J Orthop Res. 2018 Oct 1.

Heijboer RRO, Lubberts B, Johnson AH, Guss D, DiGiovanni CW. Risk-Benefit Assessment of Anticoagulant Prophylaxis in Orthopaedic Below-knee Surgical Patients. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (In print JBJS).

Chien BY, Dixon T, Guss D, DiGiovanni C. Venous Thromboembolism Disease Prophylaxis in Foot and Ankle Surgery. Orthop Clin North Am. 2018 Apr;49(2):265-276.

Guss D, DiGiovanni CW. Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Foot and Ankle Surgery. JBJS Rev. 2015 Dec 29;3(12).

Other

Anderson SE, Lubberts B, Strong AD, Guss D, Johnson AH, DiGiovanni CW. Adverse Events and Their Risk Factors Following Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injections of the Ankle or Subtalar Joint. Foot Ankle Int. 2019 Mar 13.