Research is an integral part of Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield. Our mission is to discover new knowledge that improves the quality of care and the quality of life for children and their families. Researchers from the Springfield Shriners Hospital work collaboratively with researchers from area academic institutions and with other Shriners Hospitals for Children to examine the outcomes from the care we provide for children with cerebral palsy, scoliosis and clubfoot; and have published and presented the following work in national and international forums.

Research contact

George E. Gorton, III, Ph.D.
Director, Research, Planning and Business Development
Email

Research studies

• Ounpuu, S., Gorton, G., Bagley, A., Sison-Williamson, M., Hassani, S., Johnson, B., & Oeffinger, D. (2015). Variation in kinematic and spatiotemporal gait parameters by Gross Motor Function Classification System level in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. doi:10.1111/dmcn.12766
  
• Davids, J. R., Oeffinger, D. J., Bagley, A. M., Sison-Williamson, M., & Gorton, G. (2015). Relationship of Strength, Weight, Age, and Function in Ambulatory Children With Cerebral Palsy. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 35(5), 523-529. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000320
• Oeffinger, D., Gorton, G., Hassani, S., Sison-Williamson, M., Johnson, B., Whitmer, M., . . . Bagley, A. (2014). Variability explained by strength, body composition and gait impairment in activity and participation measures for children with cerebral palsy: a multicentre study. Clinical Rehabilitation, 28(10), 1053-1063. doi:10.1177/0269215513511343
• Sison-Williamson, M., Bagley, A., Gorton, G., 3rd, Johnson, B. A., & Oeffinger, D. (2014). Analysis of the relationships that body composition and muscular strength have with oxygen cost of walking in children with cerebral palsy. Gait and Posture, 40(4), 628-632. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.07.010
• Gannotti, M. E., Gorton, G. E., 3rd, Nahorniak, M. T., & Masso, P. D. (2013). Gait and participation outcomes in adults with cerebral palsy: a series of case studies using mixed methods. Disability and Health Journal, 6(3), 244-252. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2013.01.013
• Gorton, G. E., 3rd, Young, M. L., & Masso, P. D. (2012). Accuracy, reliability, and validity of a 3-dimensional scanner for assessing torso shape in idiopathic scoliosis. Spine, 37(11), 957-965. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e31823a012e
• Gorton, G. E., 3rd, Watson, K., Tucker, C. A., Tian, F., Montpetit, K., Haley, S. M., & Mulcahey, M. J. (2010). Precision and content range of a parent-reported item bank assessing lower extremity and mobility skills in children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 52(7), 660-665. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03615.x
• Gorton, G. E., 3rd, Stout, J. L., Bagley, A. M., Bevans, K., Novacheck, T. F., & Tucker, C. A. (2011). Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire 22-item skill set: factor and Rasch analyses. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 53(3), 250-255. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03832.x
• Gorton, G. E., 3rd, Hebert, D. A., & Gannotti, M. E. (2009). Assessment of the kinematic variability among 12 motion analysis laboratories. Gait and Posture, 29(3), 398-402. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2008.10.060
• Gorton, G. E., 3rd, Abel, M. F., Oeffinger, D. J., Bagley, A., Rogers, S. P., Damiano, D., . . . Tylkowski, C. (2009). A prospective cohort study of the effects of lower extremity orthopaedic surgery on outcome measures in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 29(8), 903-909. doi:10.1097/BPO.0b013e3181c11c0c