Limping
Conditions
Brief summary
A variety of different diseases may cause a limp in a child, and in younger children it is particularly challenging to isolate the area affected. Children of this age group are unable to identify a specific region of pain, so clinical examination and parental interpretation is the only method of localising the area of discomfort. Potential problems that may affect children include inflammation, fractures, infection, juvenile arthritis or movement in the growth plate in the hip, among other diseases. Aside from an obvious source of injury, it is challenging for a clinician to distinguish between these different potential causes or the area of the problem without repeated visits, non-specific blood tests and the use of x-ray imaging: a form of radiation that carries with it a small risk of carcinogenic effect. Once a region of the lower limb is identified, an x-ray image of the affected area is often taken; however, it is not possible to image the entire leg, so the importance of the initial examination by a clinician is evident. The aim of this research project is to assess the potential of high resolution infrared (IR) imaging technology in the identification of a focus for the cause of a limping child. The IR camera used for imaging is able to observe an entire limb, so the need to localise an area for imaging would be removed. In addition, if successful, infrared imaging could reduce the number of children exposed to x-ray radiation unnecessarily, whilst stream-lining medical practice by reducing the time to make a diagnosis along with unnecessary visits and tests. The investigators aim to explore whether non-invasive IR thermographic camera imaging assists with the clinical diagnosis in children presenting with an acute limp. This study represents a pilot evaluation as a test of concept.
Interventions
DEVICEInfrared imaging
Infrared image image acquisition of study participants
Sponsors
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
9 Months to 16 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Children age 9 months -16 years old who attend the Emergency Department (ED) of the Sheffield Children's Hospital for an acute (less than 48 hours) limp. Inclusion is subject to both the patient and carer having read (or being read to in very young children) the information sheets and both the patient and carer consenting to participate.
Exclusion criteria
* Children with multiple injuries (e.g. those involved in serious car accidents), or those who have difficulty understanding the nature of the study (e.g. non-native English speakers, those with disabilities impairing their understanding of the study etc.) will be excluded. Patients/carers in whom consent has not been obtained or refused will also be excluded. Children who attend the ED with safeguarding concerns or in whom child protection suspicions arise during the consultation will be excluded. These children have a separate assessment process which would be significantly different to the study cohort.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Participants for Which Thermal Imaging Technique Correctly Identified Area of Focus for a Limping Child | 10 minutes | Number of Participants for Which Thermal Imaging Technique Correctly Identified Area of Focus for a Limping Child - 25 |
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Infrared Imaging Undertaken Infrared imaging of Region Of Interest in study participants
Infrared imaging: Infrared image image acquisition of study participants | 30 |
| Total | 30 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Infrared Imaging Undertaken | — |
|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 30 Participants | — |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | — |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 0 Participants | — |
| Age, Continuous | 5.2 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 3 | — |
| Race and Ethnicity Not Collected | — | — Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United Kingdom | 30 Participants | — |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 10 Participants | — |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 20 Participants | — |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 30 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 30 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 30 |
Outcome results
Primary
Number of Participants for Which Thermal Imaging Technique Correctly Identified Area of Focus for a Limping Child
Number of Participants for Which Thermal Imaging Technique Correctly Identified Area of Focus for a Limping Child - 25
Time frame: 10 minutes
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared Imaging Undertaken | Number of Participants for Which Thermal Imaging Technique Correctly Identified Area of Focus for a Limping Child | 30 Participants |