• Rajan R Murgai, Benita Tamrazi, Kenneth D Illingworth, David L Skaggs, and Lindsay M Andras.
• Children's Orthopaedic Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
• Spine. 2019 Jun 15; 44 (12): 866-871.

Study DesignDiagnostic accuracy.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine if neural axis abnormalities in early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients can be reliably detected with limited magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences (sagittal T1, sagittal T2).Summary Of Background DataMRIs are often performed in EOS patients as studies have shown there are neural axis abnormalities in up to 40% of this population. MRIs are expensive, lengthy, and often require general anesthesia. In young children prolonged or repeated exposure to general anesthesia may be associated with neurocognitive damage.MethodsA retrospective review of consecutive EOS patients from February to December 2017 who received an MRI of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine was conducted. MRI images were reviewed for neural axis abnormalities. Two sequences (sagittal T1, sagittal T2) of these previously reviewed MRIs were read at a separate time by an attending pediatric neuroradiologist. The imaging findings from these two select sequences were then compared with the prior radiology report based on all of the standard MRI sequences.ResultsFifty patients met criteria. Ten patients (20%) had neural axis abnormalities detected by the full MRI. All of these neural axis abnormalities were detected on the combination of sagittal T1 + sagittal T2 images. Standard MRIs lasted 66 ± 20 minutes and patients required 90 ± 22 minutes of anesthesia. Sagittal T1 + sagittal T2 sequences lasted 21 ± 7 minutes (P < 0.0001).ConclusionLimited sequence MRIs with sagittal T1 and T2 sequences for EOS patients had 100% sensitivity for the detection of neural axis abnormalities and would allow for a 68% reduction in the length of MRI and significant reduction in anesthesia time.Level Of Evidence3.

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