Hollywood technology helps children walk

Thu 26 Jun 2008

Hollywood animation technology used in blockbuster movies such as Lord of the Rings is now helping children to walk.

The Gait Laboratory at the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane uses animation technology to see why some children, as young as three, have trouble walking.

Twelve-year-old Keegan McCluskey is falling over less and has ditched his wheelchair for a walking stick since doctors were able to identify more accurately what surgery he needed to correct his walk.

Gait Laboratory director Dr Robyn Grote said the technology was reducing the number of times children had to undergo surgery because of its precision in mapping a child's motion.

"A number of reflective markers are placed on a child's legs, while eight specially designed cameras placed around the room record how these markers move," Dr Grote said.

"Several cameras track each marker to allow a computer to create a three-dimensional view of the child's motion.

"This enables the team to analyse a child walking from the side, front, back and above all at once."

Keegan, of Yeppoon, has been in and out of hospital since he was diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy at 16 months.

His mother Madelene McCluskey said doctors originally told her he would be in a wheelchair for life.

"He couldn't stand straight. He was always in a crouched position and his feet would turn out. It was a struggle to walk. He used to fall over 15 to 20 times a day," Ms McCluskey said.

"He had his first 3D tests in 2006 and last July he had three operations in one. His hamstrings were lengthened and he had heel fusions.

"He is 110 per cent better than what he was beforehand."

Keegan said he knows he has come a long way, starting with a wheelchair, walker, and crutches and now with a walking stick and ankle-foot orthopedics.

He said it was his dream to not have to go to hospital for any tests and to walk unaided.

"(The best thing) is being mobile and being able to muck around with friends," Keegan said.

"I still can't play rugby, though."

Doctors will continue to monitor Keegan's gait to determine whether he will need more surgery.

The laboratory is one of just a few pediatric clinical gait analysis labs in Australia.

It is also involved in an Australian first in developing a pilot that will examine the way children move their arms and fingers.