Evaluation of a Software Application for Assessment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Official title

Evaluation of the Concordance Between the Software Application and Standard Ultrasound Assessment in Classifying Hip Types in Infants Screened for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

Overview

The goal of this prospective, multicentre clinical investigation is to evaluate whether an artificial intelligence (AI)-supported software application can assist clinicians in the diagnostic assessment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) during routine ultrasound screening in infants. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the diagnostic classification generated by the application agree with the classification obtained by physicians using standard ultrasound examination according to the Graf method? Can the application reliably identify key anatomical landmarks and angles required for DDH assessment? Researchers will compare the AI-generated diagnostic results with those obtained from standard ultrasound examinations performed by physicians to evaluate the level of agreement between the two approaches. Participants will: undergo a routine hip ultrasound examination performed by a physician according to the Graf method, have ultrasound images analyzed by the application, have the AI-generated results compared with the physician's assessment.

Detailed description

The purpose of this prospective, multicentre clinical investigation is to evaluate the effectiveness of the application in routine clinical settings, specifically by comparing the application-generated diagnostic results with those obtained from standard ultrasound examinations conducted by physicians.

The IMD (investigational medical device) was chosen for clinical evaluation because its AI algorithms have shown promising results in identifying key anatomical landmarks, justifying its transition from development to clinical investigation. This study has been designed based on comprehensive pre-clinical verification and validation data, including reliability, usability, and cybersecurity testing, to demonstrate the device's effectiveness in supporting clinicians during DDH assessment. Unlike traditional physical medical devices, the IMD is a digital solution composed of several integrated modules, including a Physician Portal, an AI diagnostic suite, and a Decision-Support Module. The potential indications for using AI-based diagnostic tools like the IMD are extensive in pediatric orthopedics. Such digital tools could increasingly be used to support the early identification of DDH, which affects approximately

1 in 100 infants. Early detection is critical, as late diagnosis could be associated with degenerative joint disease and the need for complex surgical interventions. In cases of routine screening, AI-based diagnostic tools are expected to help maintain the integrity of the diagnostic workflow by ensuring that only high-quality, standard-plane images are used for classification. In future clinical practice, AI-supported tools may meaningfully improve diagnostic quality and efficiency, potentially setting new standards for early intervention.

Within this framework, the IMD represents a new generation of diagnostic aids that enhance the benefits of ultrasound screening, especially for high-risk groups (female sex, breech presentation, or family history).

Interventions

• Device AI-supported hip ultrasound analysis
  Software for supporting the diagnostic assessment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in infants during pre-luxation visits

Primary outcome measures

• Diagnostic agreement rate between the software application and the standard ultrasound assessment conducted by physicians [Time frame: Day 0]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Participants whose Parent(s) or Legally Authorized Representative(s) have provided written informed consent;
• Participants who need to undergo routine DDH screening and receive an ultrasound as part of the clinical investigation;
• Participants of either sex aged between 4 weeks and 6 months weeks.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants with open wounds, ulcers, burns, viral or bacterial infections at the site intended for examination;
• Participants with significant anatomical abnormalities (e.g. cerebral palsy, joint contracture, suppurative coxitis, other hip or limb deformities, or teratological hip dysplasia) that may affect the feasibility or accuracy of the examination;
• Participants with history of trauma, surgical intervention, or post-traumatic/post-surgical condition in the area to be examined.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

N/A

Model

Single group

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Diagnostic

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Publications

• Schams M, Labruyere R, Zuse A, Walensi M. Diagnosing developmental dysplasia of the hip using the Graf ultrasound method: risk and protective factor analysis in 11,820 universally screened newborns. Eur J Pediatr. 2017 Sep;176(9):1193-1200. doi: 10.1007/s00431-017-2959-z. Epub 2017 Jul 17. PMID 28717864
• D. H. Uçar, Z. U. Işklar, U. Kandemir, and Y. Tümer, "Treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip with Pavlik harness: prospective study in Graf type IIc or more severe hips," J. Pediatr. Orthop. B, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 70-74, Mar. 2004, doi: 10.1097/01202412-200403000-00002. S. R. Thomas, J. H. Wedge, and R. B. Salter, "Outcome at forty-five years after open reduction and innominate osteotomy

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07488260 · PC-MD-CIP-009 · 2022/ABM/02/00004 - 00

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗