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News & Updates
February 28, 2014
Clinical trials at a number of institutions in the United States
I would like to introduce you to information on our new scoliosis coil and screening/follow-up imaging application.
The scoliosis application uses a multi-channel, phased array, 80 cm, planar RF coil. This coil allows imaging of the entire spine (c-1 to s-1) in the standing upright position or seated upright position.
The scoliosis application allows for screening and follow-up of the patient without exposure to ionizing radiation. The entire study can be completed in 10 minutes or less resulting in economic feasibility for MRI. The multi planar MRI results provide additional information, not available from current P-A and lateral flat plane x-rays.
with severe cases of spinal abnormalities. Fonar welcomes any suggestions or insight that would aid in the development of spinal abnormalities applications.
February 28, 2014
FONAR Invents Radiation-Free Method to Diagnose and Monitor Scoliosis
Breakthrough Can End Later-Life Breast Cancer Induced by Overexposure To Spine X-Rays
MELVILLE, NEW YORK, November 26, 2007 – FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ-FONR), The Inventor of MR Scanning™, announced today at the 93rd meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago a groundbreaking invention in the diagnosis and monitoring of scoliosis. The patent-pending breakthrough utilizes new software and a new receiver coil developed for the unique FONAR UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™ MRI. The dramatic result is a single picture of the entire spine in the upright position (SEE PHOTO).
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Upright Scan of Scoliosis Patient with the Fonar Dynamic™ Upright® MRI
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A National Cancer Institute (NCI) Report shows a 70% higher risk of breast cancer for women with scoliosis (www.cancer.gov/newscenter/scoliosis2000). The NCI report says, “Researchers have found that women with scoliosis, or abnormal curvature of the spine, who were exposed to multiple diagnostic X-rays during childhood and adolescence may be at increased risk of dying of breast cancer…. The 5,466 women in the study, who received an average of 24.7 X-rays, were found to have a 70% higher risk of breast cancer than women in the general population.” The report goes on to say that “although radiation exposures to breast tissue are much lower today than during the time period covered by this study, they are not insignificant.”
Current medical practice consists of ordering baseline X-rays for suspicious physical findings in children. (http://jaapa.com/issues/j20030901/articles/scoliosis.html). With X-ray, a scoliosis patient has a PA (posterior-anterior) and lateral radiograph two or three times a year. To reduce exposure to radiation, the patient is usually scanned with her back to the source of the X-ray.
Scoliosis affects 2-3% of the population or an estimated 6 million people in the United States, according to the Scoliosis Care Foundation (http://www.scoliosiscare.org/)
Raymond Damadian, M.D., president and founder of FONAR, said, “I’m delighted to announce our invention for the radiation-free evaluation of scoliosis with the FONAR Dynamic™ UPRIGHT® MRI. An accurate evaluation of scoliosis requires the patient to be upright. A conventional recumbent-only static MRI cannot meet this need. Of critical importance, our radiation-free application can be performed in the same amount of time and at the same cost as diagnosis and monitoring by X-ray. I believe it’s imperative that every hospital and practice performing scoliosis examinations consider providing their patients with the radiation-free choice that is finally available because of the unique benefits of the FONAR Dynamic™ UPRIGHT® MRI.”
The FONAR images provide coronal, sagittal and axial views of the entire spine – with no radiation. The 3-plane visualizations are achieved by 3-D acquisition with curved multi-planar reconstruction. Both the Cobb angles and the angular rotation of the vertebrae are measured. The FONAR UPRIGHT® MRI has another important advantage over X-ray. It sees, not only the curvature of the vertebrae, but the soft tissue, including the spinal cord, intervertebral discs, nerve roots and spinal ligaments.
“This application to scoliosis is just the latest of many unique advantages found only on the FONAR UPRIGHT® MRI,” continued Dr. Damadian. “Last week we reported on the landmark independent study by the UCLA School of Medicine, which reported the comparison of Dynamic™ UPRIGHT® MRI with static Upright MRI in more than 1,000 patients (1,301). A significant overall ‘miss rate’ of 18.1% by static MRI was cited. This large study proves the diagnostic advantages of FONAR UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™ weight-bearing MR imaging.”
FONAR plans to advertise its groundbreaking radiation-free scoliosis application in major medical magazines. To see the advertisement visit: http://www.fonar.com/news/pdf/scoliosis_ad.pdf.
As many as 60,000 people attend the Annual Meeting of The Radiological Society of North America. FONAR can be visited at booth 7753 in the South Hall at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.
February 28, 2014
Corrective Exercises in Multimodality Therapy of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Children
Therapeutic exercises are the one of the basic principles of idiopathic scoliosis conservative treatment. Further progression of the disease process among these patients leads to three dimensional abnormalities of a trunk, respiratory abnormalities and postural muscle imbalance [1]. This demands a precise approach for corrective therapeutic exercises to be applied. The concept of therapeutic exercises based on three dimensional spine correction preserving postural balance with application of special breathing exercises were first elaborated by Christa Lehnert-Schroth, Germany [3] and Hans-Rudolf Weiss, Germany [4].
February 28, 2014
SpineCor treatment for Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis
Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis usually presents itself between the ages of 4-11 years. When scoliosis presents itelf early in life the curvatures are often small when diagnosed and often are not referred for good non-surgical intervention. The tendency is for everyone including the Orthopedic or Pediatric doctor to recommend observation until the curvature worsens. In my opinion this is a collossal mistake and often results in untreated scoliosis curvature progression. Those that are diagnosed at five years or younger have a high chance of progression to a large curve, with additional pulmonary and cardiac complications possible. Evidence suggest early intervention can reduce the effects of scoliosis, and may be capable of silencing the gene expression responsible for progression.
Evaluating for all epigenetic envirnomental triggers can difficult, however we think evaluating for the top 4 makes good sense, 1, neurologic imbalance (vestibular, autonomic, cortical), 2, Metabolic/dietary 3. Hormonal, 4. Orthograde (movement and postural imbalances).
Treatment options should be discussed with the family and a long term plan should be crafted. This age group responds well and quickly to good non-surgical scoliosis management. Each catagory should be considered and weighted for importance by your clinician.
Bracing is also an important treatment in this patient population. The only problem is this group can need treatment for a decade. Rigid bracing is not practical and may be detrimental to the the health of the patient in other ways. In 2002 I discoved a Canadian doctor using a flexible dynamic brace which solved many of the problems we see with rigid braces. To learn more about flexible bracing click on the link below.
February 28, 2014
New Study Suggests Lowering Threshold for Scoliosis Treatment to 20 degrees
OBJECT
The identification of Chiari malformations Type I (CM-Is) has increased in recent years, commonly during MR imaging for evaluation of a possible cause of scoliosis. The treatment of this abnormality remains controversial, and the expected success of treatment is unclear. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the effects of a craniotomy for CM-I decompression on scoliosis in children and adolescents.
METHODS
The authors conducted a 10-year retrospective review of pediatric patients who were found to have a CM-I during evaluation for scoliosis. Seventy-nine patients were identified, ranging in age from 6 months to 18 years (median 12 years). There were 42 girls (54%) and 37 boys (46%). All were noted on MR imaging to have hydrosyringomyelia of the spinal cord. Forty-nine patients had curvatures less than 20° prior to treatment. The other 30 patients had curves ranging from 25° to 80° and underwent orthopedic follow-up and treatment. None of these patients were referred for specific neurological complaints, but 12 (16%) had neurological signs on physical examination. All were treated with a craniocervical decompression in a standard fashion. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 93 months with a median of 35 months. Magnetic resonance images obtained at 6 months postoperatively and serial standing anteroposterior spine radiographs were used to evaluate outcomes.
RESULTS
On the MR images obtained 6 months postoperatively, 70 patients (89%) had a significant reduction in the syrinx with an associated ascent of the cerebellar tonsils. Persistent large syringes were treated with reoperation in 6 patients, and shunts were inserted for hydrocephalus in 2 patients. None of the 49 patients with curves less than 20° had progression of their curvature postoperatively. Of the 30 patients with curves greater than 25°, 9 had no change in the scoliosis or had a reduction in curve magnitude after Chiari decompression. This group required no further therapy and was effectively treated by Chiari decompression alone. Twenty-one patients required further scoliosis treatment after Chiari decompression; 12 required orthotic treatment, 11 received spinal instrumentation and fusion surgery, and 2 received orthoses followed by fusion and instrumentation. The severity of the curvature beyond 20° did not predict the need for spinal surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
This large series reports on the efficacy of treatment for scoliosis associated with a CM-I and syrinx in children. A CM-I decompression alone was adequate treatment for mild scoliosis of less than 20°. Patients with scoliosis greater than 20° required bracing and/or spinal fusion surgery 70% of the time in addition to the CM-I decompression.