Apparent Diffusion Coefficient of the Intervertebral Disc in Children: Pilot Study (CADDIE)

The pathophysiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is unknown. This pathology develops from 10-11 years of age and progresses until skeletal maturity, or even adulthood for the most severe forms.

Current knowledge is limited as to its origin on the one hand and the evolutionary nature of scoliosis on the other.

The mechanical parameters of the intervertebral disc are incompletely known from the deep location of this organ, its fragile nature in vivo and its susceptibility to desiccation during ex-vivo analysis.

To complete our knowledge of the mechanical parameters of the intervertebral disc of scoliotic and non-scoliotic children, we are proposing an in vivo, non-invasive and non-irradiating study carried out in children who are the main target of this pathology.

The objective of this work is to characterize the diffusion parameters (apparent diffusion coefficient ADC) of the intervertebral disc in vivo, in a non-invasive and non-irradiating manner by magnetic resonance imaging in children and adolescents. As this measurement has not been carried out in children and adolescents, we want to perform these MRI scans in children free from scoliosis and carriers of scoliosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Scoliosis Idiopathic
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar or spinal region

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Quentin BALLOUHEY, MD; Phone Number: +33555052410; Email: quentin.ballouhey@chu-limoges.fr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Edouard LOEVENBRUCK; Email: Edouard.LOEVENBRUCK@chu-limoges.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Limoges, France, 87042
    • Limoges University Hospital
    • Contact: Quentin BALLOUHEY, MD; Phone Number: +33555052410; Email: quentin.ballouhey@chu-limoges.fr
    • Principal Investigator: Quentin BALLOUHEY, MD
  • Toulouse, France, 31059
    • Toulouse University Hospital
    • Principal Investigator: Tristan LANGLAIS, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

children and adolescents with and without scoliosis seen in consultation and requiring magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar region

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• age: patients between 8 and 16 years old
• Children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar or spinal region as part of their routine care
• Scoliotic: spinal deformity characterized by a hump on clinical examination and a radiological deformation in the coronal plane greater than 10 ° with no etiology found (idiopathic)
• Healthy: no hump on clinical examination, walking patients (level 1 and 2 of the global motor function classification system)

Exclusion Criteria:

• existence of medullary and vertebral pathology other than scoliosis, history of disc or vertebral infection (spondylo-discitis) on examination, neuro-ectodermal pathology
• behavioral disturbances incompatible with the performance of the magnetic resonance imaging examination.
• Refusal of participation.
• Thoracic scoliosis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Scoliotic patients; children with spinal deformity characterized by a hump on clinical examination and a radiological deformation in the coronal plane greater than 10 ° .	Other: magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar or spinal region; The duration of the acquisition sequence between 2 and 10 minutes additional compared to a conventional magnetic resonance imaging examination.
Non scoliotic patients; Childrne with no hump on clinical examination, able to walk.	Other: magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar or spinal region; The duration of the acquisition sequence between 2 and 10 minutes additional compared to a conventional magnetic resonance imaging examination.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
measurement of the value of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) in magnetic resonance imaging.	between Day 15 and Day 90

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Apparent Diffusion Coefficient difference for scoliosis and non-scoliosis patients for one level	between Day 15 and Day 90
Correlation between right and left Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and inclination of two vertebra for scoliosis patients	between Day 15 and Day 90
gagCEST(Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer) measurement in magnetic resonance imaging of the discs	between Day 15 and Day 90

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Limoges

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 5, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: intervertebral disc; child; scoliosis; apparent diffusion coeficient
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Spinal Diseases; Spinal Curvatures; Scoliosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 87RI19_0004 (CADDIE)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No