Load bearing analysis on Lumbosacral Disc in Pre-operative and Post-operative Thoracic Scoliosis Patient

Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder seen all around the world. It affects both the alignment of the vertebra and intervertebral disc. Scoliosis can be treated conservatively with a cast and brace or surgically with spinal instrumentation. During planning for surgical instrumentation, several factors need to be considered. Among those, biomechanical changes in the non-scoliotic vertebrae and discs are important. This is vital in determining the future degenerative changes of the spine. For this reason, this study was conducted with a finite element model of the lumbosacral joint using CT scan files to find the total deformation and equivalent static strain of the lumbosacral disc between pre and post-operative thoracic scoliosis patient. From the results, it is evident that there is a biomechanical change in the lumbosacral disc and structural change in the vertebral alignment followed immediately after corrective surgery. The correction in the alignment of the scoliotic spine brings changes to the biomechanical functionality and load-bearing capacity of the lumbosacral intervertebral disc before and after surgery.

5 Reasons Why Scoliosis X-Rays Are Not Harmful

Radiographic imaging for scoliosis screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management is the gold standard assessment tool. Scoliosis patients receive many repeat radiographs, typically 10-25 and as many as 40-50, equating to a maximum 50 mGy of cumulative exposure. It is argued this amount of radiation exposure is not carcinogenic to scoliosis patients for 5 main reasons: 1. Estimated theoretical cumulative effective doses remain below the carcinogenic dose threshold; 2. Scoliosis patient x-rays are delivered in serial exposures and therefore, mitigate any potential cumulative effect; 3. Linear no-threshold cancer risk estimates from scoliosis patient cohorts are flawed due to faulty science; 4. Standardized incidence/mortality ratios demonstrating increased cancers from aged scoliosis cohorts are confounded by the effects of the disease entity itself making it impossible to claim cause and effect resulting from low-dose radiation exposures from spinal imaging; 5. Children are not more susceptible to radiation damage than adults. Radiophobia concerns from patients, parents, and doctors over repeat imaging for scoliosis treatment and management is not justified; it adds unnecessary anxiety to the patient (and their parents) and interferes with optimal medical management. X-rays taken in the evidence-based management of scoliosis should be taken without hesitation or concern about negligible radiation exposures.