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Texas Children’s uses advanced orthopedic imaging, less radiation exposure

Texas Children’s uses advanced orthopedic imaging, less radiation exposure

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Texas Children’s is the first pediatric hospital in the southwest United States to offer the EOS Imaging System, a state-of-the-art X-ray machine that provides three-dimensional, full body views of a patient’s bone structure while significantly reducing their exposure to radiation.

Unlike a traditional X-ray that captures one small area of the body, EOS provides a life-size picture of the child’s full skeleton in a weight-bearing standing or sitting position to capture natural posture and joint orientation, which is critical for physicians to diagnose orthopedic conditions precisely.

“In the past, if we were taking an X-ray of a child undergoing spine surgery, we had to take several images and piece them together,” said Dr. Lane Donnelly, associate radiologist-in-chief at Texas Children’s. “This EOS technology allows us to observe every detail of the spine and the interaction between the joints and the rest of the musculoskeletal system in a 3-D view, enabling our orthopedic surgeons to make more accurate diagnoses and more informed treatment and surgical decisions.”

The EOS is used primarily to assess pediatric patients with spine, hip and leg disorders including scoliosis and leg length deformities. Unlike a conventional radiograph, this new technology is equipped with faster imaging capabilities. Clinic through put is enhanced by the EOS as the total exam cycle with EOS is under four minutes for the most complex spine exams compared to 15 to 20 minutes with conventional radiographs.

One of the machine’s enhanced safety features includes low radiation doses. The EOS uses nine times less radiation than a conventional radiography X-ray and up to 20 times less than a computed tomography (CT) scan. Because of the low radiation dose, EOS imaging is beneficial for orthopedic patients with scoliosis and other spinal deformities who require frequent imaging to monitor disease progression.

“EOS promotes a safer and more precise approach to pediatric care,” said Dr. John Dormans, chief of orthopedic surgery at Texas Children’s. “We are always keeping our finger on the pulse to ensure we deliver the safest and most advanced care to our patients. This technology is certainly a big step in that direction.”

To learn more about this Nobel Prize-winning technology, watch the below video of Dormans and Donnelly showcasing the high-tech features of the EOS Imaging System.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8OApm67d-w

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