Theologis Group | Paediatric Orthopaedics
Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of childhood disability. The Theologis Group will run the first ever set of trials into cerebral palsy, to address the issues that matter the most to patients and provide evidence-based solutions.
Our main research interest relates to the orthopaedic management of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Tim is a PI in a national surveillance study of lower limb surgery to improve walking in children with CP, the CPinBOSS study, funded by Action Medical Research. He is a co-PI with Prof Sally Hopewell in two large multicentre paediatric physiotherapy trials (SPELL and ROBUST), which are funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme. SPELL is investigating the clinical effectiveness of a child-specific dynamic stretching exercise programme, compared to usual care, for ambulant children with spastic cerebral palsy. The ROBUST trial is investigating clinical effectiveness of an adolescent-specific strengthening programme, compared to usual care, for ambulant adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy. Both trials are part of RRIO (Research Rehabilitation in Oxford) and SITU (Surgical Interventions Trials Unit) portfolio within the Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit (OCTRU).
Tim is also a co-PI with Prof Dan Perry in another study funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme, the PICBone. This aims to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic imaging (MRI and ultrasound) in paediatric bone infection and to develop a clear decision tool to be used by front-line clinicians, that includes all diagnostic parameters.
AIM
Our aim is to lead and drive excellent quality academic research in children’s orthopaedics in order to help develop evidence-based practice for paediatric orthopaedic surgeons.
External team
Stuart Hartshorn (Birmingham)
Amaka Offiah (Sheffield)
Saul Faust (Southampton)
Catrin Tudur-Smith (Liverpool)
Rachel Rapson (Portsmouth)
Lesley Katchburian (London)
Jennifer Ryan (Dublin)
Gregory Firth (London)
Jeremy Parr (Newcastle)
Morag Andrew (Newcastle)
Bridget Young (Liverpool)