VERDICT functional prototype development
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and Evaluation of a Functional Prototype for the Automated Identification of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures: VERDICT
IRAS ID
230941
Contact name
Alejandro Frangi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Osteoporosis is a common disease characterised by increased bone fragility. Almost one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 experience osteoporosis-related fractures, with vertebral fractures occurring most frequently in older people. Vertebral fractures are difficult to diagnose and are often only discovered when the spine is imaged. Consequently vertebral fractures frequently remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed late.
Taking x-rays of the spine is the preferred way of looking for vertebral fractures, however this can expose patients to high levels of radiation. The Mellanby Centre for Bone Research at The University of Sheffield uses dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (or DXA) to look for vertebral fractures, using a scanning technique called vertebral fracture assessment by DXA (known as VFA). VFA does use x-rays but patients are exposed to much lower levels of radiation (about 1% of the radiation used during spine x-rays). Also we know from our previous studies that VFA is as good as spine x-rays for identifying vertebral fractures.
The Mellanby Centre for Bone Research at The University of Sheffield has developed a method, called the algorithm-based qualitative (ABQ) method, for identifying vertebral fractures. This approach looks primarily for changes in the vertebral endplate and includes clearly defined guidelines for the differentiation of vertebral fractures from non-fracture deformities of the vertebrae. The ABQ method is now used in standard clinical practice at the Metabolic Bone Centre, Northern General Hospital, in Sheffield. However, in-depth training is needed before it can be used effectively.
Computer-aided systems have been developed to help healthcare professionals detect vertebral fractures, however, these systems do not examine the variation in the shape and size of vertebrae in the population; this often leads to incorrect classification of vertebral fractures. We have devised a vertebral fracture identification tool (known as VERDICT), that combines the ABQ method developed by the Mellanby Centre for Bone Research, and innovative computerised image analysis methods developed by the Center for Computational Imaging and Simulation Technologies in Biomedicine at The University of Sheffield.
Our ultimate aim is to provide an objective approach to vertebral fracture identification, and to set a standard for clinical practice and future research. This research project will enable us to further develop and evaluate our VERDICT prototype prior to its wider application.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/YH/0273
Date of REC Opinion
4 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion