Infrared imaging to differentiate wrist sprain from wrist fracture
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Infrared imaging to differentiate wrist sprain from wrist fracture
IRAS ID
137351
Contact name
Reza Saatchi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
When assessing an injured child, doctors must decide whether or not there is an underlying bone fracture. The best way of doing this is to take an x-ray. In 2011, the 46,000 children attending Sheffield Children’s Hospital Emergency Department had 10,400 x-rays mainly to help diagnose fractures. Taking just the foot and wrist, 2,215 x-rays were normal with no fracture, at a cost of £119,610 (at tariff £54 per x-ray). A bone-fracture screening method is valuable as it will help doctors decide more readily whether children should have an x-ray or not.
Thermal (infrared) imaging is used widely in industry to find defects in machinery and other structures. It is finding growing applications in the medical field. In this study we will investigate infrared imaging to localise wrist fractures and differentiate them from sprains. For this study, an advanced, highly accurate thermal camera is available.
Infrared imaging is a completely safe operation, as no radiation is emitted by the camera. An infrared camera detects the emitted infrared beam from the subject. The operation of the camera is independent of environmental light and it can operate equally well in darkness or daylight.
Trauma, such as a wrist fracture, results in an increase in temperature of the affected site. This in turn increases the amount of infrared radiated from the site. A thermal camera monitors these changes at a distance (1 meter or more) by taking a series of images. The images will be processed to localise the trauma site and determine if it is fractured. As part of this analysis, the thermal profile of the affected and unaffected wrists will be compared . Also, the blood flow patterns when the wrist is upheld or lowered will be analysed. These blood flow patterns may be different in sprained and fractured wrists.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/0033
Date of REC Opinion
18 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion