Quantification of Forces Applied During Traction Radiographs in Patients with Scoliosis

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:
  • IWK patients who are scheduled to undergo spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis deformities
  • Patients scheduled to receive a traction x-ray preoperatively

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who have undergone previous spinal fusion procedures
  • Lack of ability to consent in English or through a translator

Contact

PI
Dr. Ron El-Hawary

Description

Scoliosis is a common condition and can be secondary to congenital, neuromuscular, syndromic, or idipathic etiologies.   Scoliosis is defined as a deviation of the spine of more than 10° from the vertical line, measured from an x-ray image.  When a surgeon and patient decide on surgical treatment for scoliosis, a number of x-rays are taken for surgical planning. One of these images is the supine traction x-ray, during which an orthopaedic technologist holds a chin strap over the patient’s head and jaw at one end of the table and applies a traction force while another braces the patient’s ankles. This image gives the surgeon important information about the flexibility of the spine and which vertebrae require fusing to correct and stabilize the curve. The aim of this study is to measure the forces applied in supine traction x-rays and explore the variability and relationship to spine straightening.

Sample size= 30