title: Assessment of Curve Flexibility on Scoliotic Surgical Candidates Using Ultrasound Imaging Method.
abstract: The ultrasound imaging method was implemented to assess the spinal curve flexibility of scoliotic surgical candidates, or how much correction it can achieve while patients are bending or lying down. Fifteen participants were recruited. Pre-operative radiographs and ultrasound images in both standing and bending positions were acquired. The post-operative standing radiographs were obtained 1 wk after surgery. Two raters (RZ, EL) measured the ultrasound images twice, 1 wk apart. A curve correction index (CI) was developed to estimate the curve flexibility. The CIfrom the pre-operative bending radiograph, ultrasound and post-operative radiograph were 0.51 ± 0.18; R1: 0.74 ± 0.08 vs R2: 0.72 ± 0.09 and 0.60 ± 0.10, respectively. The correlation of CIbetween ultrasound and post-operative radiography was slightly higher than the pre-operative bending and post-operative radiography. This pilot study demonstrated the bending ultrasound method is a promising supplemental tool to assess curve flexibility before surgical intervention for scoliotic surgical candidates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hedden
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Lawrence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raso
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: elou@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Curve correction; Curve flexibility; Scoliosis; Side bending radiography; Ultrasonic imaging