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Introduction: Most scoliosis clinics use radiographs to assess the spinal deformity, to make treatment decisions and to evaluate the treatment outcomes. Although radiographs are an excellent way to diagnose and evaluate curve progression, an adolescent with scoliosis can be exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation over a lifetime.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to validate a phased array ultrasound that has potential to assess the spinal deformity in real time with subjects in the upright position.
Material and Method: Laboratory experiments using polypropylene and water to simulate the skin and soft tissue layers were performed. An ultrasound phased array with a mini-encoder scanned a cadaver vertebra and a spine column model inside a water bath and covered by a polypropylene sheet. The rotation and the tilt angles of the vertebrae were measured from the ultrasound images and compared to the actual configurations. Three volunteers were also being scanned in a standing posture using the ultrasound machine.
Results: The rotation of the single vertebra measured from the original setting versus the ultrasound images was 14o versus 15o, respectively. The tilt angle of the last vertebra from the spine column was 26o from both measurements. The transverse processes were clearly seen from the volunteers' ultrasound images. The Cobb angle and the rotation of vertebrae should be able to measure from the ultrasound images.
Conclusion: Preliminary results showed promise that ultrasound has potential to assess spinal deformity.
Significance: Using ultrasound to assess the deformity can reduce ionizing radiation in scoliotic patients.
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