NCT05353569

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to see if optical coherence tomography (OCT), a new technology acting as an ultrasound for the ear, facilitates accurately diagnosing acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. Clinical diagnoses made using solely otoscopy will be compared to those made with the addition of OCT.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
235

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
23mo left

Started May 2022

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress68%
May 2022Apr 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 24, 2022

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 29, 2022

Completed
25 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 24, 2022

Completed
4.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 1, 2027

Expected
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 1, 2028

Last Updated

January 21, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4.9 years

First QC Date

April 24, 2022

Last Update Submit

January 20, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • Children's Wisconsin Urgent Care Clinic Analysis (Standard-of-Care Diagnosis)

    The investigators will look at the percentage of patients that receive the decision for antibiotic prescriptions using only a standard-of-care examination (otoscopy) (prior to addition of a research-only OCT device).

    5 years

  • Children's Wisconsin Urgent Care Analysis (Research Device Diagnosis)

    The investigators will look at the percentage of patients that receive the decision for antibiotic prescriptions after the addition of a research-only OCT device.

    5 years

  • Children's Wisconsin ENT Clinic Analysis (Standard-of-Care Diagnosis)

    The investigators will look at the percentage of patients that receive the decision for surgical intervention using only standard-of-care examinations (otoscopy, audiometry/tympanometry) (prior to addition of research-only OCT devices).

    5 years

  • Children's Wisconsin ENT Clinic Analysis (Research Devices Diagnosis)

    The investigators will look at the percentage of patients that receive the decision for surgical intervention after the addition of research-only OCT devices.

    5 years

Study Arms (3)

Children's Wisconsin Urgent Care Clinics

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects will receive a standard-of-care otoscopy examination, followed by a research-only examination using an OCT device (PCT).

Diagnostic Test: OCT Device(s)

Children's Wisconsin (Effusion in 0 or 1 ear)

NO INTERVENTION

Subjects will only receive a standard-of-care otoscopy examination.

Children's Wisconsin (Effusion in 2 ears)

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects will receive standard-of-care ear and hearing examinations (otoscopy and audiometry/tympanometry), followed by research-only examinations using two OCT devices (UIUC OCT and PCT).

Diagnostic Test: OCT Device(s)

Interventions

OCT Device(s)DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Results from standard-of-care examinations will be compared to research-only examination(s) (OCT device(s)).

Children's Wisconsin (Effusion in 2 ears)Children's Wisconsin Urgent Care Clinics

Eligibility Criteria

Age12 Months - 6 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • Parental complaint of ear infection or ear pain (Children's Wisconsin Urgent Care Clinics) OR referred for evaluation of otitis media with effusion (Children's Wisconsin ENT Clinic)
  • Speak English

You may not qualify if:

  • Children with craniofacial abnormalities
  • Children with diagnosed immunologic abnormalities
  • Children with congenital syndromic conditions
  • Current open and functioning ear tubes

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Children's Wisconsin ENT Clinic

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 53226, United States

RECRUITING

Children's Wisconsin Urgent Care Clinics

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 53226, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Kerschner JE, Daley RA Jr, Link R, Jones RM, Peterson KJ, Chun RH, Flanary VA, Gorelik M, Keppel KL, Maksimoski M, Malloy M, Martin TJ, McCormick ME, Robey TC, Ansari S, Matoska GM, Rupcich CA, Saunderson ML, Shay SG, Sulman C, Erbe C, Thompson JK, Khampang P, Yan K, Simpson PM, Ho A, Monroy GL, Spillman DR, Aksamitiene E, Boppart SA. Clinical trial assessing the use of optical coherence tomography in decision making for children presenting with acute otitis media. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2026 Mar;202:112728. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2026.112728. Epub 2026 Jan 14.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Otitis MediaOtitis Media with Effusion

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

OtitisEar DiseasesOtorhinolaryngologic Diseases

Study Officials

  • Joseph Kerschner, MD

    Medical College of Wisconsin

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Roxanne Link, APNP

CONTACT

Christy Erbe

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 24, 2022

First Posted

April 29, 2022

Study Start

May 24, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2028

Last Updated

January 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations