A study published in Spine shows routine full-length spine radiographs during the first six months after posterior spinal fusion for adolescent scoliosis rarely detect abnormalities that requires meaningful clinical management change.
Researchers conducted a retrospective chart and radiographical review at a single institution of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis after posterior spinal fusion between 2007 and 2012. There were 129 patients and 761 full-length spine radiographs taken during the first six months after surgery.
The researchers found:
• Eight patients had implant-related or non-implant related radiographical abnormalities
• Only two of the patients with IR or NIR identified abnormalities were considered clinically significant
• Seven of the patients without radiographicallly identified abnormalities were discovered to have abnormalities using other imaging modalities
• Two of the patients who had abnormalities discovered with other imaging modalities were considered clinically significant
• The full-length spine radiograph sensitivity for detecting clinically significant abnormalities was 50 percent
• The full-length spine radiograph specificity for detecting clinically significant abnormality was 95 percent
"Blanket postoperative screening algorithms should be reconsidered to minimize patient radiation exposure," concluded the study authors.
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