Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | R | Radiologic Technology

Scoliosis and spine imaging.

Article Excerpt
Radiographers understand the importance of getting the most diagnostic information from as few radiographs as possible. And in the world of pediatric scoliosis imaging, pediatric orthopedic surgeons, radiologists and orthotists must obtain more than just spine data from each and every radiograph.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) is a pediatric orthopedic hospital in Dallas, Texas. Upon diagnosis of scoliosis in a child, the hospital staff assures the patient and parents that, although scoliosis can be inherited, it is not uncommon, not contagious and usually not painful. TSRHC staff also help patients and parents understand that they did not cause the scoliosis and they could not have prevented its occurrence.

With 7 pediatric orthopedic surgeons at TSRHC requesting more than 12 000 scoliosis films a year, our pediatric radiographers take the time needed to produce excellent radiographs, maximize radiation protection and support patients and parents.

This article is a follow-up to the Directed Reading titled "Spinal Curves and Scoliosis," by Susan M Anderson, MAEd, R.T. (R), in the September/ October issue of Radiologic Technology. I will expand on Anderson's article by discussing the different protocols for imaging babies, children, preteens and teens.

Scoliosis

The most common type of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, which usually occurs in preteen and teen girls. Girls have scoliosis 8 times more often than boys do.

Congenital scoliosis, or early-onset scoliosis, is a frequent reason for imaging the spine of babies and young children. As a rule, children with congenital scoliosis will have missing vertebrae, fused vertebral bodies or a combination of these.

Infants and Young Children

The major directive a radiographer obtains from orthopedic surgeons concerning spine imaging is to have the patient stand with equal weight on both feet (no shoes). Nevertheless, in a pediatric imaging setting, the radiographer must be prepared to image all age groups from newborn to teens, as well as children who may have cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, spina bifida, obesity, casts, braces or other physical limitations. Leaded markers (see Box 1), such as right, left, standing, sitting, supine and bending, must clearly reflect how each scoliosis exam was performed.

Box 1 Sample Protocol for Markers To Label Spine Films * RIGHT and LEFT. * STANDING, SITTING,...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!