At The Advanced Spine Center, we’re committed to providing our patients with the most innovative and effective diagnostic tools available. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our newest addition: the EOS Imaging System.
The EOS Imaging System is a low radiation dose, bi-planar X-ray system captures comprehensive full-body images in both 2D and 3D formats. It lets us visualize the entire skeletal system while generating an accurate representation of how the spine functions in real-world conditions.
What Sets the EOS System Apart?
Traditional imaging methods have served us well, but EOS takes diagnostic capabilities to the next level. This advanced system delivers three major improvements over conventional X-rays and CT scans. Each advantage translates directly into better care for our patients.
- Significantly Lower Radiation Exposure: Patient safety is our top priority, which is why an imaging machine like EOS, that uses up to 90% less radiation than a standard CT scan and 50% less than traditional X-rays, is so important. This significant reduction in radiation exposure makes it safer for regular monitoring and follow-up scans, which can be particularly important for pediatric patients and those requiring ongoing assessment.
- High-Quality, Full-Body 3D Images: The EOS system provides an unparalleled comprehensive view of your entire skeletal system in a single scan. By creating precise 3D models of your spine and surrounding structures, our spine specialists can examine your skeletal structure from every angle, leading to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment planning.
- Capturing Natural Standing Posture: Perhaps the most significant advantage of EOS imaging is its ability to capture your spine in its functional, weight-bearing position. While lying down for traditional scans, gravity’s effects on spinal alignment are eliminated, potentially masking important diagnostic information. EOS reveals how your spine truly behaves under normal conditions, providing our spine specialists with a more accurate assessment of spinal alignment.
Conditions We Can Better Diagnose with EOS
EOS imaging is a cutting-edge technology that provides a new level of detail for diagnosing a range of musculoskeletal conditions. By capturing high-quality, weight-bearing images, it allows doctors to visualize the spine and skeleton in a way that traditional imaging methods cannot. This provides a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of complex conditions, leading to better-informed diagnoses and more effective treatment plans. Here are just a few of the spine conditions we can better diagnose with EOS.
- Scoliosis and Other Spinal Deformities: EOS imaging better enables more accurate diagnosis, precise monitoring of curve progression, and comprehensive surgical planning. The 3D capabilities allow our surgeons to understand the complex nature of spinal deformities.
- Kyphosis: The advanced 3D imaging capabilities of EOS help our spine specialists better assess both the degree and nature of kyphosis (the forward curve of the spine). This detailed visualization is crucial for determining the most appropriate treatment approach and monitoring treatment effectiveness over time.
- Spinal Stenosis: EOS helps us to better visualize the spine in a weight-bearing position and is particularly valuable for diagnosing spinal stenosis. This condition often becomes more apparent when the spine is under load, and traditional lying-down scans may not reveal the full extent of nerve compression that occurs during normal daily activities.
- Spondylolisthesis: For conditions like spondylolisthesis, where one vertebra slips forward over another, the weight-bearing imaging capability of EOS is absolutely helpful. This technology allows us to see how the vertebrae behave under normal gravitational forces, providing essential information for accurate diagnosis and effective monitoring of this condition.
- Spinal Alignment and Balance: The full-body scanning capability of EOS enables a comprehensive assessment of how your spine aligns with your hips and legs. This global view of spinal balance is helpful for developing treatment plans that address not just isolated problems, but the overall harmony of your musculoskeletal system.
What to Expect During Your EOS Scan
Getting an EOS scan is a remarkably quick and comfortable experience. The entire scanning process takes only a few seconds to complete, making it convenient for patients of all ages. You’ll simply stand in the open-air scanner, which helps to eliminate any feelings of claustrophobia that some patients experience with traditional MRI or CT machines.
During the brief scan, the EOS system captures highly detailed, comprehensive images that provide your spine specialist with an in-depth view of your spinal health. The standing position feels natural, and most patients find the process much more pleasant than traditional imaging procedures.
The Future of Spinal Health is Here at The Advanced Spine Center
As one of the first medical centers in our region to invest in EOS technology, The Advanced Spine Center continues to lead the way in bringing cutting-edge innovations to our community. The introduction of EOS imaging technology is more than just an equipment upgrade. It embodies our vision for the future of spinal healthcare and our commitment to providing our patients with the most advanced, safest, and most effective care available.
Our decision to incorporate EOS imaging stems from extensive research and evaluation of emerging technologies in spinal care. We’ve witnessed firsthand how this technology transforms diagnostic accuracy, enhances treatment planning, and ultimately improves patient outcomes. By bringing EOS to our practice, we’re ensuring that our patients have access to the most sophisticated diagnostic tools available in modern spine care.
For patients requiring surgical intervention, EOS imaging has aided our approach to surgical planning and execution. The detailed 3D reconstructions allow our surgeons to virtually rehearse complex procedures before entering the operating room, identifying potential challenges and optimizing surgical approaches in advance. This enhanced preparation translates into more precise surgical execution, reduced operative times, and improved patient outcomes. Surgeons can plan screw placement, determine optimal correction strategies, and anticipate anatomical variations that might affect the procedure, all before making the first incision.
The integration of EOS technology into our practice reflects our core philosophy that exceptional spinal care requires the perfect combination of advanced technology, clinical expertise, and genuine commitment to patient wellbeing. This technology enhances our ability to provide each of these essential components at the highest level.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]