Funding outcome

Indigenous populations are at higher risk of having developmental hip dysplasia (DDH) than the general population. DDH occurs when a shallow hip joint socket puts the baby at risk for joint dislocation, and this condition can typically be treated with a harness during the early weeks of life. Currently in Canada, screening for DDH is done by sonographers and radiologists. This approach requires patients to travel centrally. Further, only at-risk babies are screened (i.e., breech or familial history), leading to the potential for missed diagnoses. As a solution, our team is investigating the use of handheld portable ultrasound paired with artificial intelligence (AI) for DDH screening. The AI reads the image and recommends a follow up path. With any innovation, one challenge is determining how to best train new users and introduce the innovation to parents. In this project, we propose implementation of this screening tool in the remote locations of Fort McMurray and Ft. McKay in Alberta, with a focus on the development and analysis of the success and challenges of using knowledge sharing tools for users of the technology and rural, remote, and Indigenous parents/caregivers of potential patients.