SOFTWARE from IBEX Innovations - which is on a mission to extract the maximum amount of diagnostic value from every X-ray scan - is helping reduce the cost of fractures, ease the burden on the NHS, and boost the UK’s ageing population.

Osteoporosis is a huge socio-economic problem that 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 (bones that break after falling from standing height or less) every year as a result of osteoporosis, costing more than £4.4 billion per year.

A recent clinical study of IBEX Trueview software developed in Sedgefield demonstrated that it can be used to identify osteoporosis at an earlier stage in the care pathway. This can enable targeted treatment to start sooner, which reduces the risk of serious, potentially life-changing fractures occurring in the future.

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The findings of the study were recently published in the British Medical Journal and show that Trueview 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.

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.

The software can be implemented on to 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.

CTO of IBEX Innovations, Paul Scott, said: “The 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.

“We are proud to have developed a technology that can assist in the early detection of osteoporosis and poor bone health, and to be playing our part in reducing the occurrence of potentially life-changing fractures.”

The Chief Investigator for the study, Professor Amar Rangan, who is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of York, added: “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.”

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.

Henry Mace, Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy at the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: “The Society is encouraged to see the results so far from Trueview and we are delighted to be working in partnership with IBEX Innovations."

 

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