Results of a clinical study published in the British Medical Journal demonstrate that IBEX Trueview software can accurately predict fracture risk from standard DR scans – paving the way for advances in osteoporosis detection.
Trueview demonstrated high levels of sensitivity and specificity to non-normal bone health: this means that it can be used to identify osteoporosis at an earlier stage in the care pathway.
Developed by UK-based IBEX Innovations, Trueview X-ray imaging software can help to predict a patient’s risk of a future fracture from X-rays that have already been taken – for instance following a minor accident – enabling targeted treatment to start sooner. This reduces the risk of serious fractures occurring in the future.
The software can be implemented onto new and existing X-ray systems without any need to replace or upgrade them, and it requires no additional scans or changes to operating protocols. It is designed to integrate seamlessly into a clinical workflow, with results available to clinicians within seconds of capturing the digital radiograph.
Osteoporosis is a huge socioeconomic problem which affects more than 3.5 million people in the UK. According to the NHS, more than 500,000 people receive hospital treatment for fragility fractures every year as a result of osteoporosis, costing more than £4.4 billion per year.
Often, osteoporosis is only diagnosed after a more serious fracture and the impact on a patient’s quality of life is significant, with many losing their independence and requiring long term care. Hip fractures, for example, carry a one-year mortality rate of 33% with half of surviving patients no longer able to walk unaided. With the support of Trueview, many of these life-changing fractures could be prevented.
CTO of IBEX Innovations, Paul Scott, stated: “IBEX Trueview software turns every compatible X-ray into an opportunity to screen for bone health. It has the potential to transform millions of lives and help to ease the financial burden of osteoporosis on the NHS.
“I am really encouraged by the results of this clinical study and am excited to see Trueview move one step closer to providing real benefits to patients and healthcare providers."
The Chief Investigator for the study, Professor Amar Rangan, who is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of York, commented: “When I came across the novel Trueview technology, I recognised that it has the potential to change the way in which we assess bone health, and I was keen to formally test it in an independently funded study.
“The results from our published study confirm that Trueview does indeed identify poor bone health. Current work is now focusing on how this new technology may work within current care pathways to get the right treatment to the right patients sooner.”
Consultant Rheumatologist and co-author of the paper, Dr Stephen Tuck, added: “Trueview has great potential to identify at risk individuals attending for routine X-rays who might otherwise go undetected.
“As no special equipment is needed, it can be bolted onto existing digital X-ray machinery and could be widely used. It could be especially useful in regions where access to densitometry is limited or where there are long waiting times for DXA tests.”
Trueview software is being recognised and backed by a growing number of organisations and clinical professionals, and last year IBEX Innovations announced a partnership with the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
Further studies are underway with Exeter University to confirm performance on patients undergoing routine wrist X-rays. To read the article, visit: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051021.full
