Thermographic skin temperatures of patients presenting to the hospital with red, hot swollen joints and of wrists, ankles and hips after fracture fixation. Signs and Symptoms
Conditions
Interventions
This is a study of 12 months duration.
Following wrist and ankle fixation, patients will be imaged after the operation, and at 1 or 2 weeks, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks.
Following hip fixation, patients w
Sponsors
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 110 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Wrist fractures treated with volar plate 2. Ankle fractures treated with plate and screws 3. Neck of femur fractures treated with dynamic hip screw or arthroplasty 3. Patients with painful, red, hot, swollen joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle) attending the emergency department or who have been admitted
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Aged <18 years old 2. Prior fixation to ipsilateral or contralateral ROI (Region of Interest) 3. Concurrent skin condition over ROI 4. Peripheral neuropathy or vasculopathy 5. Pathological Fracture 6. Inflammatory Arthropathy 7. Open fracture 8. Concomitant injuries or other joints or limbs affected 9. Skin conditions affecting the ipsilateral or contralateral region of interest 10. Conditions that will prevent the participant from having capacity, giving consent or following instructions
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Skin temperature (Tsk) values for wound healing relative to the unaffected contralateral (opposite) limb following wrist, ankle and hip fracture fixation measured using infrared thermography (IRT) at baseline, 1 or 2 weeks, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks for wrist and ankle fractures. Hip fractures will be imaged on alternate days ( e.g. days 0, 2, 4 etc) whilst inpatients and during routine follow-up. 2. Tsk values in those patients who go on to develop IAFF or wound-healing problems measured using IRT at baseline, 1 or 2 weeks, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks for wrist and ankle fractures. Hip fractures will be imaged on alternate days ( e.g. days 0, 2, 4 etc) whilst inpatients and during routine follow-up. 3. Tsk values in patients with a red, hot swollen joint(s) relative to the unaffected contralateral (opposite) limb measured using IRT imaged during admission and consecutive days up until washout and daily until discharge. Patients will then be pragmatically imaged during routine follow-ups, which will be directed by their surgeon. This will likely be at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. 4. Feasibility, operational protocols and numbers required for a larger, follow-up study power calculations, cost estimates and qualitative assessment at conclusion of the study | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Define Tsk reference values in orthopaedic populations over the time frame Tsk returns to normal measured using IRT across the whole duration of the study, at 1 or 2 weeks, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks and during routine follow-up 2. Confirm or refute whether contralateral (opposite) Tsk temperatures during fracture healing follow a similar pattern to the fractured limb as previously suggested measured using IRT across the whole duration of the study at 1 or 2 weeks, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks and during routine follow-up 3. To store and analyse data in a way compatible with an Artificial Intelligence/machine learning (advanced data analytical methods) model measured using qualitative assessment at the conclusion of the study 4. To establish the effect of fracture severity and comorbidity on Tsk IRT readings in orthopaedic patients measured using questionnaires across the study duration 5. To establish the effect of wound length on Tsk IRT readings measured using clinical measurement with a ruler at 24 weeks 6. To determine whether thermographic Tsk differences exist in those patients who go on to develop septic arthritis (infected joints), versus other conditions e.g. crystal arthropathy (crystals in the joint), and cellulitis (infected skin) measured using IRT and recorded diagnoses in patient medical records at 24 weeks | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactLaura Cayley
Outcome results
None listed