Overview: A collaborative push to prevent hip dislocation in cerebral palsy
Researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool, together with Manchester Imaging Ltd, have secured a £1.2 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to develop an automatic tool aimed at preventing hip dislocation in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The project brings together orthopedics, radiology and artificial intelligence to address a common and serious complication of CP: hip instability that can lead to pain, reduced mobility and long-term disability.
What makes the tool automatic and why it matters
The initiative centers on an AI-driven system that analyzes imaging data and patient-specific factors to identify early warning signs of hip dislocation risk. By automating parts of the monitoring and decision-support process, clinicians can detect patterns that might be missed during routine checks. The goal is to support timely interventions—whether through physical therapy adjustments, orthotics, or surgical planning—before dislocation occurs, reducing pain and preserving range of motion for growing children.
How it integrates with clinical care
The tool is designed to work alongside existing imaging workflows used in pediatric orthopedics. It can review ultrasound and X-ray data, compare with prior studies, and flag high-risk scenarios for rapid clinician review. Importantly, the system emphasizes transparency and clinician oversight, providing explanations for its alerts and recommendations. This collaborative approach ensures that medical judgment remains central while AI enhances consistency and speed of interpretation.
The team and the research plan
The project is led by researchers from Manchester and Liverpool, with input from Manchester Imaging Ltd, a company specializing in AI medical devices. The researchers will conduct prospective studies in pediatric clinics to validate the tool’s accuracy, reliability, and impact on clinical decision-making. They will also explore how the tool can tailor monitoring schedules to individual patients, accounting for factors such as age, CP severity, and prior hip history.
Expected benefits for children and families
For children with CP, preventing hip dislocation can preserve mobility, reduce chronic pain, and improve participation in daily activities. Parents and caregivers may experience less uncertainty when planning long-term care, knowing that an automated system is helping monitor hip stability alongside routine pediatric assessments. In addition, the tool could streamline referrals and resource use, guiding timely interventions that might otherwise be delayed during busy clinics.
Future steps and impact on care pathways
After initial validation, the team plans to expand testing across multiple centers to ensure generalizability across diverse patient populations. If successful, the tool could be integrated into national CP care guidelines as a standard component of hip surveillance programs. Long-term, the developers hope to extend the approach to related musculoskeletal challenges in CP, from knee alignment to gait abnormalities, using a similar AI-augmented framework.
Why this matters now
As children with cerebral palsy reach adolescence, maintaining joint health becomes critical for independent living and participation in school and leisure activities. An automatic, evidence-based tool to prevent hip dislocations aligns with broader healthcare goals: improving outcomes through early detection, personalized care, and smarter use of imaging and data. The collaboration between UK universities and industry highlights a growing trend toward AI-enabled medicine that respects clinical expertise while enhancing patient safety.
