Use of Fluorescent Imaging Device (Moleculight) in Orthopaedic Surgery

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Use of Fluorescent Imaging Device (Moleculight) in Tissue Sampling, Biopsy & Debridement in Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Feasibility Study

  • IRAS ID

    293391

  • Contact name

    Jonathan Stevenson

  • Contact email

    jonathan.stevenson@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS FT

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    Use of FLuorescent ImAging Device (Moleculight) in Tissue Sampling, Biopsy & Debridement in PeriproStHetic Joint Infection (FLASH): A Feasibility Study

    Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is known to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The management of PJI includes irrigation and debridement of infected tissues. However, there is currently no objective way to identify and sample infected tissues in real-time intraoperatively. We are aiming to assess the effectiveness of a novel point-of-care fluorescent imaging device (Moleculight) in guiding tissue sampling and debridement to aid the diagnosis and eradication of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in surgery.

    Consecutive case series (feasibility study) at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust. We aim to enrol 5-10 patients into this study who have signed a consent form to participate in this project. The patients will undergo routine debridement and sampling procedures as per current guidelines, followed by the use of fluorescent imaging to detect any “missed” infected tissues. The additional samples taken with the guidance of fluorescent imaging are labelled and sent to the laboratory. The microbiology results from the additional tissues detected by Moleculight are analysed to assess the effectiveness and sensitivity of the device in detecting possible residual infected tissues. All other aspects of care will be according to the standard practice.

    Outcome
    • To confirm the effectiveness of real-time monitoring for the adequacy of mechanical debridement and tissue sampling in prosthetic joint infection surgery.
    • To assess the ability of a fluorescent imaging device to detect areas of high bacterial burden for targeting sampling for speciation and antibiotic sensitivities.

  • REC name

    North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/NW/0345

  • Date of REC Opinion

    29 Nov 2022

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion