Funding outcome

Ultrasound and artificial intelligence - a safer view of the hip for children with CP. Cerebral palsy (CP) is the leading cause of physical disability in children, affecting about 1 in 400 Canadians [1]. These children experience lifelong limitations in movement due to differences in early brain development [2]. As a result, children with CP are at high risk for bone and joint problems that can progress with age. In 1 out of 3 children with CP, the hip gradually moves out of joint (displacement). Hip displacement can make movement difficult, cause pain and poor quality of life. Early detection and treatment can prevent the hip from completely coming out of the joint (dislocation). Early detection is possible through surveillance involving regular clinical exams and hip x-rays. The hip is a ball and socket joint, in healthy hips the ball is 100% covered by the socket. In hip displacement, a portion of the ball is 'uncovered'. Current standard of care uses an x-ray of the hip joint to measure the amount of the ball not covered. Children with CP may have frequent x-rays to measure changes in hip displacement throughout their childhood. However, x-rays expose children to ionizing radiation that may increase cancer risk later in life. Researchers have used ultrasound to manually measure and estimate hip displacement using expensive 3D equipment. Our team will develop an artificial intelligence (AI) method, using low-cost ultrasound, to automatically calculate hip displacement. We will compare the current x-ray method of surveillance with the AI-ultrasound method. If effective, future AI-ultrasound may be used to measure hip displacement more safely, accurately and quickly.