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[Ultrasonography of the spine in infancy]
1Klinik für Orthopädie und Traumatologie am St. Josef-Krankenhaus Engelskirchen/Köln.
Insights
Spinal sonography is a suitable, noninvasive screening method for detecting spine malformations in newborns and infants. This ultrasound technique allows for clear visualization and exclusion of spinal abnormalities in early life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric imaging
- Diagnostic ultrasound
- Spinal anatomy
Background:
- Spinal sonography offers a noninvasive approach for examining the pediatric spine.
- Standardized techniques are crucial for reliable assessment of spinal structures in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the suitability of spinal sonography as a screening method in newborns and infants.
- To assess the reliability of visualizing spinal structures using ultrasound.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of sonographic imaging (transverse and sagittal planes) with anatomical sections of an infant corpse.
- Verification of findings through clinical application in newborns and infants.
Main Results:
- The study demonstrated technical feasibility and reproducibility of spinal sonography in 50 infants.
- Image quality decreases after 6-8 months due to ossification.
- Ultrasound identified spinal malformations like spinal dysraphism and hemivertebrae.
Conclusions:
- Spinal sonography is a suitable noninvasive screening tool for excluding spine malformations in newborns and infants.
- The examination is simple to perform and allows clear demarcation of spinal deformities.
Question:
Based on a standardized technic and reliable attachment of the presented structures the suitability of spinal sonography as a screening-method in newborns and infants should be estimated.
Methods:
Enabled by the comparison of sonographic transverse and sagittal plains with identical anatomic sections of an infant corpse the anatomic structures of an healthy spine were associated, which was verified in the clinical use later on.
Results:
Exemplary photographs of a collective of 50 newborns and infants reproduce the presentation of the spine found in the preparation of the corpse. The technical practicability of such an examination in clinical use was confirmed herein and it became clear that the application of this method is limited from the 6.-8. months of living on because of the increasing ossification which involves a reduction of the image quality. The deviations from the spine presentation in normal relations were shown by some ultrasound examples of malformed spines (spinal dysraphism, hemivertebrae).
Conclusion:
Reproducible attachment of the structures obviously seen with ultrasound and the clear demarcation of deformations as well as the simply practicable examination make evident the suitability of spinal sonography in newborns and infants as a noninvasive screening for the exclusion of spine malformations.