How to Perform a Reliable Full Spine X-ray Examination in Juvenile and Adolescent Scoliosis.Experience outcome
Abstract Background:Ionizing radiations, even at low doses, present side effects that are known as well as girls and toung women constitute the most sensible individuals from a radioprotectional point of view. On the other side full spine x-ray radiography is the gold standard in diagnose and follow-up of AIS, where individuals involved are typicaly girls and young women.For these reasons, a partuicular care permorming radiographics esamination in this scope, in mandatory.The aim of this work is to provide a simple and detailed protocol to perform full-spine X-ray examination in diagnosis and follow-up of AISThis paper is the result of our experience along 7y of work in application and study of the scoliosis in the first two decades of life, combining the orthopaedist’s requirements, the surgical requirements along with the care for the particularly significant relational feature, due to the specific category of most individuals undergoing this radiological examination.Methods:For the maximum usability and Clarity, we considered three main topics: a) single examination b) examination during orthotic treatment and c) pre-op control. For each one we explained number and type of X-ray view used and how we performed them with the assistance of detalide figures. Results:By comparing X-ray images before and after the application of our protocol, we saw a significant increase in the quality of the produced images as well as a positive feedback from patients and parents acceptance.Conclusions:An extended collaboration between the Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Radiographer, has led to a clear improvement in technical execution and in an exposure dose reduction. Furthermore a particular attention to the patient’s comfort, along with some technical stratagems, led to an improving effectiveness of the services supplied.