Near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for Intracranial Hematoma Detection in Children

Overview

This is a study to determine whether the Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) optical density (OD) measurement with an Infrascanner device accurately identifies the presence of an intracranial hematoma in pediatric patients ≤18 years of age after known or suspected traumatic brain injury compared with head computerized tomography (CT) scans as the gold standard.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Observational
  • Study Design
    • Time Perspective: Prospective
  • Study Primary Completion Date: September 2018

Detailed Description

A key decision point in the management of patients with an acute traumatic brain injury is determining the presence of an intracranial hematoma that may require neurosurgical intervention. An expanding hematoma can lead to significant neurological morbidity or death due to brainstem compression or further ischemic injury. Unfortunately, no single physical sign, symptom, or score reliably indicates the presence of an intracranial hematoma. A computerized tomography (CT) scan of the head is the gold standard for emergent identification and localization of acute intracranial hematomas. However, the ionizing radiation from CT scans is associated with an increased risk of developing malignancies. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technology that may be useful as an adjunctive modality to CT scanning for early identification of intracranial hematomas. A hand-held NIRS device called the Infrascanner has shown about 90% sensitivity and specificity for detecting intracranial hematomas in adults and a few small studies have shown similar results in children. The present study will aim to validate this device in a wide age range of pediatric subjects and in multiple hospital settings where this device may serve as a valuable screening tool.

Interventions

  • Device: Infrascanner Model 2000
    • The Infrascanner Model 2000 device is a small, portable handheld device that uses near infrared (NIR) technology to screen patients for intracranial bleeding.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Infrascanner exam
    • Infrascanner Model 2000 exams may be conducted either before or after an associated head CT for pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) or pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with a known or suspected traumatic head injury undergoing a head CT scan to evaluate for the presence or absence of an intracranial hematoma. The time between the head CT scan and the Infrascanner exam will be within 6 hours. The exam involves placing a sensor on the designated areas of the head with the most common locations for traumatic hematoma. Readings from the monitor evaluating each region will be evaluated and recorded. The 8-point exam can be accomplished within 5 minutes or less.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Sensitivity of NIRS Optical Density (OD) Measurement
    • Time Frame: 2-years
    • Determine the sensitivity of the NIRS optical density measurement by the Infrascanner device for identifying the presence of intracranial hematomas in pediatric patients after known or suspected traumatic brain injury compared to head CT scans as the gold standard

Secondary Measures

  • Specificity and Predictive Values of NIRS Measurement
    • Time Frame: 2-years
    • Determine the specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values of the NIRS measurement for detecting intracranial hematomas
  • Variability in Sensitivity and Specificity Based on Hematoma Characteristics
    • Time Frame: 2-years
    • Determine whether sensitivity and specificity vary depending on hematoma type (i.e. epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, intracerebral), hematoma volume, distance of hematoma from brain surface, and skull thickness
  • Age Varying Sensitivity
    • Time Frame: 2-years
    • Determine whether the sensitivity of the NIRS measurement differs by patient age.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Males or females ≤18 years admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) ED or PICU with a known or suspected traumatic head injury undergoing a head CT scan to evaluate for the presence of an intracranial hematoma. – Head injury occurred <12 hours prior to presentation for the initial CT scan, or the subject had a clinical change prompting repeat CT scanning. Exclusion Criteria:

  • Evidence of extensive scalp injury including lacerations, avulsions, or abrasions that will impair proper coupling of the Infrascanner device to the subject's head or prevent placement of the device in the specified locations. – History of neurosurgical procedure (e.g. decompressive craniectomy) with residual bone flap.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: N/A

Maximum Age: 18 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Collaborator
    • Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Matthew Kirschen, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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