Researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool, together with Manchester Imaging Ltd, (a local company that specialises in developing AI medical devices), have received a £1.2 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s (NIHR) ‘Invention for Innovation’ (i4i) programme, to build an automatic system for measuring hip displacement in cerebral palsy patients.
“AI will revolutionise the care we provide, enhance diagnostics and care pathways and free up time for our clinicians to do what they do best: caring for our children and young people. This is a great example – a practical tool directly focused on better care for children with cerebral palsy” – Lead Clinician, Professor Daniel Perry (surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and NIHR Research Professor).
Children with cerebral palsy are at high risk of developing hip problems, with the ball of the hip moving out of the socket. This movement can cause the child severe pain, problems sitting down, and difficulties with personal care. The dislocation, however, can be prevented through regular X-ray measurements and prompt intervention with reliable procedures if a problem is spotted.
The system, developed in conjuncture with clinicians at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, is intended to be integrated into the Cerebral Palsy Integrated Pathway (CPIP), the national framework used to monitor the musculoskeletal systems of children with cerebral palsy. CPIP involves affected children receiving regular assessment, physical examination and regular hip X-rays, which are then examined by medical experts in order to identify changes and predict risks.
This process, however, is not nationally standardised, and uptake differs between regions. Due to the large amount of clinician time it consumes, and the extra costs and delays involved, levels of CPIP uptake are often limited by the resources available to a particular region. This means that the standard of care for a child with cerebral palsy may be higher in one area of the country than another.
This new tool, however, will help to change that – by automating the process of hip x-ray interpretation, data capture and monitoring, enabling more patients to benefit from early detection and prevention as a result.
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: “This project demonstrates the NIHR’s commitment to transforming healthcare for all of society, adults and children. We are already supporting research that embeds innovation directly into NHS services and tools like this automatic AI system have real potential to reduce waiting lists, improve long‑term outcomes for children with cerebral palsy, and help clinicians make better decisions at earlier stages of care.
Dr Claudia Lindner, who co-leads the project with Prof. Cootes, states, “This software can be used to ensure prompt and consistent diagnoses. We want to make sure that every child with cerebral palsy in the UK receives the same high level of care.”
‘;