Early detection of burn induced heterotopic ossification using transcutaneous Raman spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Innovation
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Heterotopic ossification (HO) affects over 60% of severe burn and blast injuries, with current diagnostics lacking early detection capabilities.
• Early intervention for HO is crucial but hindered by inadequate diagnostic tools for timely diagnosis.
• Raman spectroscopy, previously used for bone development, is explored for burn-induced HO diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate transcutaneous, in-vivo Raman spectroscopy for the early diagnosis of heterotopic ossification (HO) in a mouse model following burn injury.
• To assess the efficacy of Raman spectroscopy in detecting HO at earlier time points compared to conventional methods.
• To analyze spectral differences in ectopic bone composition using Raman spectroscopy.

Main Methods:

• An Achilles tenotomy model in mice was used, with groups subjected to burn or sham injuries.
• In-vivo, transcutaneous Raman spectroscopy was applied at multiple time points (5 days to 3 months).
• Ex-vivo Raman measurements, Micro CT, and histology were performed for verification and detailed analysis.

Main Results:

• Non-invasive, transcutaneous Raman spectroscopy successfully detected HO formation.
• Raman data revealed significantly increased bone mineral signaling as early as 5 days post-injury, preceding Micro CT detection at 3 weeks.
• Ex-vivo analysis showed distinct spectral differences in ectopic bone composition compared to native bone.

Conclusions:

• Burn injuries combined with trauma significantly increase HO risk.
• Raman spectroscopy enables HO detection in vivo as early as 5 days post-injury in a mouse model.
• Spectral changes in bone mineral and matrix composition facilitate early HO identification and timely therapeutic decisions.