RecruitingNCT04441983Updated Jul 16, 2026

Foot/Extremities at 7T MRI

An observational study in Plantar Plate Tear, sponsored by Balgrist University Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-16.

Sponsored by Balgrist University Hospital · Observational

From the registry’s dates

Started Jun 2021; still recruiting 5 years 3 months later.

Study type: Observational
Model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Enrollment: 100
Ages: 18 Years and older
Sex: All

Study summary

To evaluate standard clinical sequences for 7 Tesla MRI of the foot and extremities to improve detailed depiction of the complex anatomy of this region.
To evaluate various pathologies of the foot and extremities (plantar plate tears, Morton neuroma, tendon tears, ligament tears etc.).

Conditions studied

Plantar Plate Tear

In context

Lead sponsor

Balgrist University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 80 studies on the registry; 14 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

Who can participate

Ages eligible: 18 Years and older
Sexes eligible: All
Accepts healthy volunteers: Yes
Sampling method: Probability sample

Study population

Patients who have undergone a forefoot MRI for clinical indications (or previous study) will be enrolled

Inclusion criteria

Informed consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form)
at least 18 years old
Study group: Patients with specific pathologies (i.e. Morton neuroma, tendon tears, plantar plate tears) as proven by 1,5 or 3T MRI or asymptomatic subjects (to look at the normal microanatomy of different structures, mainly the plantar plate)
Control group: No evidence of the respective pathology.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

previous foot/ extremities surgery with metal in vivo
pregnancy or breast feeding
any MRI contra-indications

Study design

Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Enrollment: 100 participants (estimated)
Target follow-up: 3 Years
Patient registry: Yes

Groups and cohorts

7T MRI of the foot
Diagnostic Test: 7 Tesla MRI of the foot

Interventions

Diagnostic test7 Tesla MRI of the foot
7 Tesla MRI

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

sensitivity / specificity
The sensitivity/specificity for detection of various pathologies in the foot/ankle, for exampleMorton neuroma, plantar plate tears and tendon injuries at 7T MRI
Time frame: 2 years

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting

Balgrist University Hospital
Zurich, Canton of Zurich 8008, Switzerland
- Christoph Germann, MD · Contact · christoph.germann@balgrist.ch · +41443863322
Recruiting

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026

No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 16, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Registry details

Key details

Study ID: NCT04441983
Lead sponsor: Balgrist University Hospital
Responsible party: Sponsor
First posted: Jun 22, 2020
Start date: Jun 25, 2021
Primary completion: Nov 30, 2028 (estimated)
Completion: Dec 31, 2028 (estimated)
Last update: Jul 16, 2026

Study contacts

Christoph Germann, MD

Contact

christoph.germann@balgrist.ch

+41443863322

Reto Sutter, MD

study director · Balgrist University Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee: Yes
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No

View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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