Scoliosis Screenings for Children
Routine scoliosis screenings are performed at the pediatricians office or at your child's school. If your child receives a positive screening result, the child should be evaluated by an orthopedic spine doctor to further assess whether he or she has any form of scoliosis.
Scoliosis is usually confirmed by taking an X-ray of the entire spine looking from front to back. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that can cause asymmetric growth of the spine and the chest wall. Common symptoms of scoliosis include: one shoulder blade higher than the other, uneven waist and hips, uneven rib cage, bump in the back or front of the chest.
Generally, scoliosis is a disorder of growth and usually occurs in adolescents during the time of growth spurt just before puberty. It is very important to diagnose scoliosis early so that appropriate treatment can be initiated to prevent any progression of the scoliosis and avoiding unnecessary back surgeries.
Newest Spine Imaging Technology Reduces Radiation Exposure
At Nicklaus Children's Hospital, we are committed to providing our patients and their families with the best care and technology available. This focus has led to our recent acquisition of the EOSedge™, an imaging system that delivers high-quality, three-dimensional full-body images of patients in a standing position using low-dose radiation.
EOSedge has a unique setting called Flex DoseTM that adjusts the amount of radiation patients receive. This setting minimizes exposure of areas of the body when possible, while still delivering the high- resolution images needed for our doctors to make treatment decisions. EOSedge is offered at the Center for Spinal Disorders at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.
The Center for Spinal Disorders at Nicklaus Children's has been using EOS imaging systems for its pediatric spine patients since 2013. Traditional EOS imaging services are offered at the hospital's spine clinics in Miramar and Palm Beach Gardens.