ThermOI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
High resolution thermal imaging to identify vertebral fractures in children and young people with osteogenesis imperfecta
IRAS ID
186384
Contact name
Shammi Ramlakhan
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Brittle bone disease also known as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is characterised by a defect in the bone tissue that leads to recurrent fractures and significant bone deformities in children. These fractures include vertebral (spinal) fractures. As a result, child with OI require regular clinic surveillance that includes repeated x-rays of the spine. in our pilot study we plan to use a thermal imaging camera that can pick up changes in temperature to 0.03 degrees to determine whether we can accurately identify vertebral fractures without the need for radiation. in the first part of the study we will compare the thermal images from the camera with the x-rays to see if we can pick up the vertebral fractures seen on the x-ray picture. If this is possible, then we will move on to phase 2 of the study which will investigate the ability of the thermal camera to pick up vertebral fractures without prior knowledge of where the fractures are located. If this approach is successful this will help us to develop a non-radiation, low-cost painless way of identifying vertebral fractures in children with OI.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0770
Date of REC Opinion
25 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion