3D Weight-Bearing CT Scans for Foot and Ankle Problems in Lee's Summit, MO

A 3D weight-bearing CT scan creates a detailed three-dimensional image of the bones and joints in your foot or ankle while you are standing. Because the scan captures your foot while it is supporting your body weight, it can reveal alignment problems, joint changes, deformities, fractures, and other structural concerns that may not be as obvious when the foot is examined without weight on it.

At our office in Lee's Summit, Dr. Foster offers 3D weight-bearing CT imaging so patients throughout the Kansas City area can receive advanced foot and ankle imaging without being sent to a separate imaging facility. Dr. Foster can use the images alongside your physical examination and medical history to better understand what is causing your symptoms and determine what treatment options make sense for you.

What Is a 3D Weight-Bearing CT Scan?

CT stands for computed tomography. A CT scanner takes a series of X-ray images from different angles and uses computer processing to create detailed cross-sectional and three-dimensional views of the area being examined.

A weight-bearing foot and ankle CT is different from a conventional CT performed while you are lying down. During a weight-bearing scan, you stand naturally so Dr. Foster can see how your bones and joints align when your foot is actually supporting your body.

This is especially important in the foot and ankle because many structural and biomechanical problems change once weight is placed on the foot.

Why Does Weight-Bearing Imaging Matter?

Your feet are designed to support and move your body. The position of the bones and joints while you are sitting or lying down may not tell the entire story of what happens when you stand, walk, or push off the ground.

A weight-bearing CT can help Dr. Foster evaluate how the bones interact under normal load and identify structural changes that may be contributing to pain, instability, deformity, or difficulty walking.

For example, a patient with flat feet may experience significantly different alignment while standing than when the foot is relaxed. Likewise, the true position and severity of a bunion can be better understood when the foot is bearing weight.

What Can a Weight-Bearing CT Scan Help Evaluate?

Dr. Foster may recommend 3D CT imaging when he needs more structural detail than a standard X-ray can provide. Depending on your symptoms and examination, weight-bearing CT imaging may help evaluate:

• Bunions and other forefoot deformities
• Flat feet and abnormal foot alignment
• Arthritis and joint degeneration
• Foot and ankle fractures
• Stress fractures or suspected bone injuries
• Ankle instability
• Joint position and joint-space changes
• Complex bone deformities
• Prior surgical changes
• Bone healing after certain procedures
• Foot and ankle anatomy before surgery

If your pain began after an injury, you may also find our guide to foot and ankle injuries helpful. Patients experiencing pain from repetitive activity can also review the signs of a foot stress fracture.

3D Weight-Bearing CT vs. a Standard X-Ray

Digital X-rays and weight-bearing CT scans both use X-ray technology, but they provide different kinds of information.

A standard X-ray creates a two-dimensional image and is often an excellent first step for examining fractures, joint alignment, arthritis, and changes in bone structure. A CT scan goes further by capturing images from multiple angles and creating a three-dimensional representation of the bones and joints.

Dr. Foster does not necessarily need a CT scan for every foot or ankle problem. The appropriate imaging study depends on what he is trying to evaluate. In some situations, an X-ray provides all the information needed. In others, the additional three-dimensional detail from a CT scan can make an important difference.

How Can 3D CT Imaging Help With Foot and Ankle Surgery?

Accurate imaging can be particularly valuable when evaluating a structural problem that may require surgery.

Before recommending a procedure, Dr. Foster needs to understand the position, shape, and relationship of the bones involved. A three-dimensional weight-bearing image can help demonstrate the severity and location of a deformity while also showing how the foot functions under load.

This information can help with surgical planning for conditions such as bunions, structural flat feet, fractures, joint problems, and other deformities. Patients considering surgery can learn more about Dr. Foster's approach to minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery.

What Happens During a Weight-Bearing CT Scan?

The scan is performed in our Lee's Summit office. You will be positioned so the foot or ankle being examined is bearing weight. The scanner then captures a series of images that are processed into detailed views of the bones and joints.

The scan itself is typically straightforward. Once the images are available, Dr. Foster can review the relevant findings in the context of your symptoms and examination.

One of the advantages of having advanced imaging available in the office is that your diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning can remain closely connected instead of requiring multiple visits to unrelated facilities.

Does a Weight-Bearing CT Scan Use Radiation?

Because CT scanning uses X-rays, it does involve ionizing radiation; however, the amount of radiation from our pedCAT scan is very small. A scan of both adult feet delivers approximately 6.4 microSieverts of radiation. To put that into perspective, a single serving of Brazil nuts contains approximately 10 microSieverts of naturally occurring radiation. The radiation exposure from a pedCAT scan is also comparable to the amount of natural background radiation the average person receives over approximately 19 hours.

If you have questions about radiation, previous imaging studies, pregnancy, or whether CT imaging is appropriate for you, discuss those concerns with Dr. Foster before your scan.

What Happens After the CT Scan?

The CT scan is a diagnostic tool, not a treatment by itself. Once Dr. Foster understands the underlying problem, he can discuss the options that are appropriate for your condition.

Depending on the findings, treatment may involve activity changes, immobilization, bracing, custom foot orthotics, therapy, injections, monitoring, or surgical treatment.

The goal is not simply to obtain a more detailed image. It is to use the right information to make a better treatment decision.

Frequently Asked Questions About 3D Weight-Bearing CT Scans

What is the main advantage of a weight-bearing CT scan?

The primary advantage is that it provides a detailed three-dimensional view of the bones and joints while the foot is supporting your body weight. This can expose alignment and structural problems that may be less apparent when the foot is not loaded.

Is a weight-bearing CT better than an X-ray?

Not necessarily. The two tests answer different questions. X-rays are extremely useful for many bone and joint problems. CT imaging may be recommended when Dr. Foster needs greater three-dimensional detail or wants to evaluate a complex structural or alignment problem.

Can a weight-bearing CT detect a fracture?

CT imaging can provide detailed views of bone and may be useful when evaluating certain fractures or suspected bone injuries. The imaging study Dr. Foster recommends will depend on the location of your pain, the injury, your examination, and any previous imaging.

Can a CT scan help evaluate bunions?

Yes. Weight-bearing imaging can help demonstrate the alignment and position of the bones involved in a bunion while you are standing. This can be particularly useful when evaluating a significant deformity or planning treatment.

Can weight-bearing CT imaging help with flat feet?

Yes. Because flat-foot deformities are often most apparent while standing, weight-bearing imaging can provide useful information about alignment and joint position under load.

How much does a weight-bearing CT scan cost?

Joel Foster, DPM, follows a direct-care model with transparent pricing. Visit our current products and services pricing page for the latest published pricing for weight-bearing CT imaging and other foot and ankle services.

Get Advanced Foot and Ankle Imaging in the Kansas City Area

If foot or ankle pain, deformity, instability, or an injury has left you searching for answers, advanced imaging may help identify what is happening beneath the surface.

Joel Foster, DPM, is a double board-certified podiatric surgeon who evaluates and treats foot and ankle conditions at his Lee's Summit, Missouri office. Patients visit the practice from throughout the Kansas City metro area, including Independence, Overland Park, Olathe, Jackson County, and Johnson County.

Contact our office or call 816-246-4222 to schedule an evaluation and find out whether a 3D weight-bearing CT scan may be appropriate for your foot or ankle problem.