ClubFoot vs SharpAngleApp

Clubfoot Solutions has provided this app to assist parents of children born with clubfoot deformity as they are going through the brace wearing stage of treatment. Parents can track the amount of time in and out of the brace and see how the treatment is progressing based on the daily goals provided by Ponseti International Association. Please consult your healthcare provider that your child’s prescribed brace wearing goals match that recommended by Ponseti International Association. The calendar and daily statistics display also provide the ability for people to see when goals are attained, missed or partially obtained. Stop events allow parents to track when the child is out of the brace and can be added to a day for more accurate tracing of treatment. This app is powered by Zimmer Biomet and Letter B.

The diagnosis of hip dysplasia, the prognosis, the evaluation of different methods of treatment is based mainly on X-rays of the hip joint. For the objective evaluation of hip dysplasia in everyday orthopaedic care the acetabular index (AI) or the Centre-edge angle (CE) are frequent measured. But the measurement of AI is not valid index for acetabular Dysplasia in children over 8 years of age and in cases with subluxation of the femoral head where the centre-edge angle (CE) is not accurately calculated. The acetabular angle of Sharp (AA) is especially designed for theses cases. The acetabular angle of Sharp (AA) is formed by a horizontal line connecting the tips of the both pelvic teardrops and by a line connecting the inferior tip of the pelvic teardrop with the most lateral point of the acetabular roof. Measuring angles in X-rays in clinical settings it is time consuming. Accessory instruments like protractors, goniometers, well sharped pencils, rulers or even transparent papers must be available in a busy everyday practice. Usually you miss or you never had one or another. Also after measurement you have to compare the data that you measure with the normal reference values according to patient age, and decide what could be considered normal in an X-ray of the hip and what is considered pathologic. This way is cumbersome and old fashioned.  The SharpAngle app is medical software aimed for orthopaedic surgeons, providing tools that allow doctors to: -Securely import medical images directly from the camera or stored photos -Offers a very convenient way to determine the most accurate possibly lines in order to measure the angles. By the aid of a circular transparent template, the points of interest are marked accurately. The automatically formed lines, drawn between points, measure automatically the angles of interest. The results are printed in degrees. By inputing the age, of the patient in the App, the measured angle is compared with values from normal reference database according to patient age. In case the measured angle is beyond the normal range for that age, the hips are categorised as borderline dysplastic or dysplastic. -Save the planned images, for later review or consultation. All information received from the software output must be clinically reviewed regarding its plausibility before patient treatment! SharpAngle App is indicated for assisting healthcare professionals. Clinical judgment and experience are required to properly use the software. The software is not for primary image interpretation. The app is a handy tool for an orthopaedic surgeon, radiologist, medical student or resident who wants objectively monitor and determine the severity of dysplasia of the hip. The build-in comparison feature with the normal reference values according to patient age may help decide what could be considered normal or borderline dysplastic or dysplastic. The app is not a simple goniometer, is an enhanced product which offers the ability to compare all the input data with medical reference database. The results are printed on the screen and the hips are categorised as normal or dysplastic according to the AA angle measures respectively. This feature it is particular useful especially in clinical settings where you need a quick results without losing time in looking for reference data according to age variations in huge textbooks. Reference 1.Sharp IK. Acetabular dysplasia. The acetabular angle. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1961; 43B:268–272.