A new study published in Spinal Deformity examines EOS posteroanterior and anteroposterior views, comparing radiation exposure during spine surgery with standard imaging techniques.
The researchers examined 42 idiopathic scoliosis patients who were either treated with bracing or spinal fusion; there were 21 patients in each group. They compared the scoliosis radiographs for each patient and followed patients through skeletal maturity.
The researchers found:
1. The average number of radiographs per patient was 20.9.
2. The surgical treatment patients had significantly more X-rays than braced patients — 27.3 X-rays compared with 14.5 X-rays.
3. The average cumulative dose was 5.38 mSv, assuming all films were computed with a filter.
4. The EOS films had an average cumulative estimated dose at 2.66 mSv, which is a 50.6 percent decrease.
5. The anteroposterior EOS radiograph had eight times higher dose to the breast and four times higher dose to the thyroid than the posteroanterior EOS radiograph.