Can a simple ultrasound replace MRI to track muscle loss in sick kids?
NCT ID NCT05108441
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study checks if bedside ultrasound can accurately measure thigh muscle size in critically ill children, compared to the gold-standard MRI. Researchers will scan 35 sedated children in the ICU with both methods to see if ultrasound is reliable enough for daily use. If it works, doctors could easily monitor muscle loss without moving fragile patients to an MRI machine.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could validate a simple bedside tool to monitor muscle loss in critically ill children, helping guide nutrition and care.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early validation study with only 35 children. Results may not apply to all patients, and ultrasound accuracy could vary between operators.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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35 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2022
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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1 year to 17 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * critically ill children from 0 to 17 years old * magnetic resonance imaging planned for any medical reason * sedated child for any medical reason * absence of parental/patient refusal to participate to the study Exclusion Criteria: * congenital neuromuscular disease * no possible access to the thigh (e.g. dressing, drains, gypsum) * anatomical anomaly of the limb, that would compromise localizing thigh landmarks (patella, groin) * inability to obtain limb rest and/or thigh muscle decontraction * risk induced by mobilization of the patient for ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging purpose * absence of social insurance
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Paediatric intensive care - Hospices Civils de Lyon
Bron, Bron, 69500, France