Dr. Brian Toolan has focused on several clinical projects related to foot and ankle disorders. In the past, he studied the effects of acquired flatfoot deformity on tibiotalar contact pressures in a cadaveric model, and performed a follow-up study on the effects of UCBL orthotics and surgical techniques on joint contact characteristics in the same model. Both of these studies were published in Foot & Ankle International. He recently published a retrospective study in Foot & Ankle International comparing lateral column lengthening to a medial calcaneal osteotomy in the treatment of adult acquired flatfoot. He is currently conducted a similar comparison in a prospective clinical study that is currently ongoing. Lastly, he is retrospectively evaluating the results of a new procedure for salvaging malunited ankle fractures with chronic syndesmotic disruption using a distal fibular arthrodesis and soft tissue reconstructions.
In addition to his interests on flatfoot deformity, Dr. Brian Toolan is interested developing a better understanding of ruptured Achilles tendon healing process and potentially developing new means in treating patients with this injury. Achilles tendon ruptures are common injuries and both surgical and non-surgical treatments have frequent complications such as wound dehiscence and re-rupture. Therefore, Dr. Toolan, in collaboration with Drs. He, has used a rat model to investigate the effects of BMP-14 and other factors on Achilles tendon healing, finding a 70% increase in tensile strength at two weeks.
Tong-Chuan He, MD PhD
Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine
Committee on Cancer Biology
Committee on Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology