Ultrasound <i>vs.</i> x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression?
This retrospective study, utilising prospectively collected data, investigates the use of spine ultrasound as an alternative method for assessing scoliosis, with the aim of reducing radiation exposure. We included 92 patients aged 10 to 16 years with suspected idiopathic scoliosis. Exclusion criter...
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PAGEPress Publications
2025-02-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Translational Myology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.pagepressjournals.org/bam/article/view/13422 |
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| author | Samra Pjanić Goran Talić Nikola Jevtić Filip Golić Ivan Soldatović Nachiappan Chockalingam |
| author_facet | Samra Pjanić Goran Talić Nikola Jevtić Filip Golić Ivan Soldatović Nachiappan Chockalingam |
| author_sort | Samra Pjanić |
| collection | DOAJ |
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This retrospective study, utilising prospectively collected data, investigates the use of spine ultrasound as an alternative method for assessing scoliosis, with the aim of reducing radiation exposure. We included 92 patients aged 10 to 16 years with suspected idiopathic scoliosis. Exclusion criteria were weight over 150 kg, metal implants, pre-existing conditions, secondary deformities, and cognitive impairments. Each patient underwent clinical assessment and full spine radiographs, followed by spine ultrasound using the Scolioscan® system. Unprocessed B-mode ultrasound images were analysed using automatic measurements. The correlation between Ultrasound Coronal Angle (UCA) and Radiographic Cobb Angle (RCA) was evaluated at initial and follow-up visits. Strong correlations were found between UCA and RCA, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.786 to 0.903 (p < 0.001). The regression formula showed good predictive accuracy for curve progression on follow-up radiographs. The best results were observed in females and in primary thoracic curves (r = 0.936, p < 0.001). Although only four patients exhibited true progression (≥5° increase in Cobb angle), changes in scoliotic angles were effectively detected using ultrasound. This study confirms the feasibility of unprocessed spine ultrasound for scoliosis monitoring in clinical settings. Automatic measurements without 3D reconstruction make ultrasound a practical tool for tracking progression. The regression model shows potential for predicting curve progression, although further validation is needed. These findings suggest spine ultrasound could reduce the need for radiographs, benefiting patients by minimising radiation exposure while providing reliable monitoring of scoliosis progression and treatment outcomes.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c2864bb476af4fe89a60c5e708fe4658 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2037-7452 2037-7460 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Translational Myology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2864bb476af4fe89a60c5e708fe46582025-08-20T03:01:28ZengPAGEPress PublicationsEuropean Journal of Translational Myology2037-74522037-74602025-02-0110.4081/ejtm.2025.13422Ultrasound <i>vs.</i> x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression?Samra Pjanić0Goran Talić1Nikola Jevtić2Filip Golić3Ivan Soldatović4Nachiappan Chockalingam5Institute for Physical, Rehabilitation Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Dr. Miroslav Zotović, Banja LukaInstitute for Physical, Rehabilitation Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Dr. Miroslav Zotović, Banja LukaScolio Centar, Novi SadInstitute for Physical, Rehabilitation Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Dr. Miroslav Zotović, Banja LukaFaculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, BeogradCentre for Biomechanics and Rehabilaition Technologies, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent This retrospective study, utilising prospectively collected data, investigates the use of spine ultrasound as an alternative method for assessing scoliosis, with the aim of reducing radiation exposure. We included 92 patients aged 10 to 16 years with suspected idiopathic scoliosis. Exclusion criteria were weight over 150 kg, metal implants, pre-existing conditions, secondary deformities, and cognitive impairments. Each patient underwent clinical assessment and full spine radiographs, followed by spine ultrasound using the Scolioscan® system. Unprocessed B-mode ultrasound images were analysed using automatic measurements. The correlation between Ultrasound Coronal Angle (UCA) and Radiographic Cobb Angle (RCA) was evaluated at initial and follow-up visits. Strong correlations were found between UCA and RCA, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.786 to 0.903 (p < 0.001). The regression formula showed good predictive accuracy for curve progression on follow-up radiographs. The best results were observed in females and in primary thoracic curves (r = 0.936, p < 0.001). Although only four patients exhibited true progression (≥5° increase in Cobb angle), changes in scoliotic angles were effectively detected using ultrasound. This study confirms the feasibility of unprocessed spine ultrasound for scoliosis monitoring in clinical settings. Automatic measurements without 3D reconstruction make ultrasound a practical tool for tracking progression. The regression model shows potential for predicting curve progression, although further validation is needed. These findings suggest spine ultrasound could reduce the need for radiographs, benefiting patients by minimising radiation exposure while providing reliable monitoring of scoliosis progression and treatment outcomes. https://www.pagepressjournals.org/bam/article/view/13422ScoliosisAdolescentultrasoundSpineidiopathic |
| spellingShingle | Samra Pjanić Goran Talić Nikola Jevtić Filip Golić Ivan Soldatović Nachiappan Chockalingam Ultrasound <i>vs.</i> x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression? European Journal of Translational Myology Scoliosis Adolescent ultrasound Spine idiopathic |
| title | Ultrasound <i>vs.</i> x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression? |
| title_full | Ultrasound <i>vs.</i> x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression? |
| title_fullStr | Ultrasound <i>vs.</i> x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultrasound <i>vs.</i> x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression? |
| title_short | Ultrasound <i>vs.</i> x-ray: a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression? |
| title_sort | ultrasound i vs i x ray a new way for clinicians to track scoliosis progression |
| topic | Scoliosis Adolescent ultrasound Spine idiopathic |
| url | https://www.pagepressjournals.org/bam/article/view/13422 |
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