Here at Hey Clinic, we recommend regular follow-up appointments for our scoliosis patients to monitor their curve. For adolescent patients undergoing active treatment, these follow-up x-rays can be as often as once every 3 months. This begs the question: Is radiation from frequent scoliosis x-rays harmful? Historically, the answer is yes.

Research shows that children are particularly susceptible to adverse effects of medical radiation and they may have increased risk of radiation-induced cancers later in life.^{1, 2} In a study of 5500 female scoliosis patients who were diagnosed and treated between 1912 and 1965, there was a twofold increase in the risk of breast cancer.³ According to another study, scoliosis patients who undergo routine imaging may have an overall cancer rate 5x higher than those who do not.⁴ 

At Hey Clinic, we believe that regular monitoring is essential to personalized and effective spine care. But how do we regularly monitor scoliosis without risking the well-being of our precious patients? To do this, the Hey Clinic has invested in a state-of-the-art EOS Imaging System.

EOS captures high-quality x-ray images while using only 1/10 of the radiation compared to a standard x-ray machine. Even beyond this, EOS has a “Micro-Dose” setting for young children that is 1/50 of normal x-ray radiation. This amount of radiation is equivalent to a week’s worth of natural radiation on earth! EOS, along with other innovations in modern x-ray technology, has drastically reduced the risk associated with frequent x-rays. Now we can track scoliosis treatment progress regularly and know that, above all else, our patients are safe! 

1. Nelson A, et al, Characterization of Radiation Exposure in Early-Onset Scoliosis Patients Treated with the Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib. Pediatric Orthopedics. 2014. 
2. Pearce MS, et al, Radiation Exposure from CT Scans in Childhood and Subsequent Risk of Leukemia and Brain Tumors: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Lancet. 2012.
3. Doody MM, et al, Breast cancer Mortality After Diagnostic Radiography: Findings from the US Scoliosis Cohort Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000.
4. Simony A, et al, Incidence of Cancer in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients Treated 25 Years Previously. European Spine Journal. 2016