Akron Children’s Hospital first in region to offer EOS imaging system to provide low-dose radiation for pediatric orthopedic patients

02-05-2020 (Akron, Ohio )

Akron Children’s is the first hospital in Northeast Ohio to provide X-rays for patients using the EOS^® imaging system, the first technology capable of providing full-body, 2D and 3D images of patients in a standing position with a low dose of radiation.

The addition means that young patients seeing orthopedic specialists who need regular X-rays, such as those with scoliosis, will be exposed to much less radiation as they are assessed.

“The EOS is new, state-of-the-art technology that provides outstanding quality X-rays of the entire spine, while reducing radiation exposure to a fraction of that in traditional X-rays,” said Dr. Lorena Floccari, a pediatric spine surgeon in the department of Pediatric Orthopedics at Akron Children’s. “This improves our diagnostic capabilities while providing the highest level of safety to our patients at Akron Children's. We are thrilled to offer this new technology to patients with a wide range of spine and other orthopedic conditions.”

According to the company, the EOS system offers 50% to 85% less radiation than traditional X-ray systems and 95% less dose than basic computed tomography (CT) scans, in accordance with the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle for minimizing a patient’s exposure to radiation.

Reducing radiation dose is particularly beneficial for children requiring frequent imaging, such as children with spinal deformities like scoliosis. The Micro Dose feature further reduces radiation exposure, offering frontal and lateral pediatric full spine images at a dose that’s equivalent to only a week’s worth of natural radiation.

EOS captures bi-planar images with two perpendicular X-ray beams that travel vertically while scanning the patient from head to toe. In less than 20 seconds, the EOS exam produces simultaneous frontal and lateral low-dose images. The two resulting digital images are processed by EOS’ proprietary sterEOS^® software to generate a 3D model of the patient’s spine and/or lower limbs. These 3D models provide highly detailed information about the patient’s unique anatomy to better assist orthopedic surgeons as they diagnose patients. This additional data can be used in the EOSapps for precise, 3D surgical planning to help improve overall patient outcomes by identifying patients at risk and developing a customized surgical plan.

Spine specialists at Akron Children’s use innovative technologies and techniques to advance care for children and adolescents with abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis and kyphosis), as well as other spinal conditions. In addition to bringing EOS to the region, the program has also implemented best practices and enhanced care coordination for scoliosis surgery to improve a patient’s recovery time and shorten their hospital stay.

For more information on the Akron Children’s Spine Program, call 330-543-3500.