Researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a method that analyzes specific cells in the blood shortly after an injury or operation, writes Newswise.
Using specialized technology, they examined the activity of these cells and used it to predict whether complications would arise.
According to the study, published in Nature Communications, the model is accurate in about 90 percent of cases.
Tailoring treatment
The method has been used to identify heterotopic ossification, a condition in which bone tissue forms in soft tissue after injury or surgery, which can lead to pain and reduced mobility.
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Today, such complications are often only detected several weeks later through imaging techniques such as X-rays or CT scans, delaying an accurate assessment.
This means that doctors often initiate treatment without knowing whether it is necessary.
According to the researchers, up to 80 percent of patients receive treatment they may not need. This can lead to unnecessary side effects and additional costs.
The new method could make it possible to detect problems earlier and tailor treatment more precisely to each individual patient.
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Implications for other diseases
The method is still under development, but the researchers believe it may also be used for other diseases in which the body’s healing process does not function normally.
This includes conditions such as osteoarthritis and fibrosis.
Sources: Newswise and Nature Communications.
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