To organize the current work in the simplest way, we identified the main reasons or conditions which lead to the prescription of a standing full-spine X-ray. Specific view and conditions to perform them according to the situation are also examined.
A) Single check-up
a.1 indications
It represents the first radiographic evaluation, following a prescription by the Specialist who observed the presence of a hump during the physical examination.
a.2 setting of the patient
During the examination the patient only wears her/his underwear (not the vest). Girls and young women should wear a sports bra, without any metal parts, otherwise the Radiographer will give them something to cover their breast.
As for any X-ray examination, the patient will need to remove any metal objects from around the area to be examined (neck, thorax and abdomen), e.g. necklaces, earrings, piercings.
a.3 preliminary assessment
The main aim of every X-ray is to give diagnostic images.
For this reason and for an adequate positioning of the lead shield, especially for breasts, it is appropriate to perform an accurate assessment of the patient.
Such assessment does not have and cannot have a diagnostic purpose, but it is carried out to understand the patient’s habitus for a better X-ray.
It consists in observing the patient in the coronal plane both in antero-posterior and postero-anterior view, highlighting shoulder and iliac crest asymmetries, as described in Fig. 1, and in anterior bending of the trunk (Adam’s forward bend test), to notice any humps, as shown in Fig. 2, for an adequate positioning of the lead shields. For this reason, the Radiographer, looking at her antero-posteriorly, should trace an imaginary line connecting the spinous processes of the patient in standing position (marked by his thumb) with the ipsilateral breast (marked by his index finger) to clear potential overlapping, as shown in Fig. 3.
a.4 Antero-Posterior (AP) view
Positioning the shields in male patients is easier: the lead shield will be positioned on the genitalia and, if conceived without specific strings, it will be kept in position with fabric plaster.
In girls and young women, the positioning is more complex. At the genitalia level the lead shield, positioned with the superior edge on the line joining the Antero Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS) (see Fig. 4), covers the inferior 2/3 of the distance between the iliac crest and the greater trochanter.
Both in female and male gender, Risser’s sign is fundamental to correctly evaluate the X-ray image result, so is mandatory to avoid use of aperture.
To protect the breasts shaped models of the appropriate size can be used; the lead shield must not overlaps the potential scoliotic deviation. Depending on the model of the shields available, the two parts (right and left) can be tied together with a string behind the neck (see Fig. 5) or with a fabric plaster. Once checked the correct positioning, it is advisable to fix them with a strip of fabric plaster so that they can’t move in the coronal plane.
When standard devices cannot be used, most of the breasts on the side of the scoliotic deviation can be covered with other differently-sized lead shields. When neither this is possible, the breast on the side of the curve will not be covered, while the contralateral side will be covered as usual, as shown in Fig. 6. The positioning of the patient in relation to the X-ray film is very important too, as the correct measurement of the Cobb angle depends on this.
The patient stands perfectly parallel to the X-ray film and leaning against it. The potential presence of humps will limit the contact only on the side where the hump is present.
To verify that no rotation is present in the axial plane of the shoulder girdle, place your thumbs on the humeral lesser tuberosities and wrap the shoulders with your fingers, you will check if the virtual line joining the humeral lesser tuberosities is parallel to the X-ray film.
Likewise, you must verify that no rotation of the pelvic girdle is present, measuring by touch the distance of the ASIS from the X-ray film, placing your hands by the patient’s hips: with the tip of the middle finger touching the X-ray film and your thumbs on the ASIS, the patient will be perfectly parallel to the X-ray film if your hands are equally stretched and the patient does not have one or both knees bent (Fig. 7). If the patient’s habitus could not allow the simultaneously positioning of the thumbs on the ASIS and of the tip of the middle fingers on the X-ray film, the perceptive sensation of the Radiographer will ensure the best possible positioning.
The head must be in a neutral position, with no hyper-extension or hyper-flexion, looking at the horizon, without clamping your teeth or having them resting together (stomatognathic apparatus in neutral position).
The upper limbs must rest along the body, slightly abducted in the coronal plane to exclude them from the Field of View (FOV) of the X-ray. Feet are parallel and close, but not with any contact points included medial malleolus. Take care to exclude crystalline lens from FOV by using appropriate aperture. The correct positioning is shown in Fig. 8.
The right positioning before and during the x-ray examination also goes through an efficient relationship with the patient, who has to be involved as an active part during the examination, adequately informed, and has to feel comfortable. The time spent talking with patient and her/his parents about the examination and answering their questions, is not wasted but it is fundamental to have a good final X-ray.
a.5 Side view
What already said in a.4 also is valid for this view, with some specifications.
First, the lead shields will be replaced to better protect the genitalia and, in girls and young women, the breast on the side contralateral to the one chosen for the view. Shields must not be placed posteriorly beyond the vertical line passing through the acoustic meatus, acromion, greater trochanter and the lateral malleolus, in order not to cover, at lumbar level, the anterior wall of L5.
The choice of the side follows the classic rules of radiology: a right convex curve requires a right view, and a left convex curve requires a left one. The reference must be the main curve in presence of a compensating curve and, in case of a double or triple curve, the clinically most evident. In the lateral view, the upper limbs will be bent, the tip of the fingers resting over the ipsilateral clavicle, slightly moving the elbows onwards in order not to mask the lumbosacral joint. In this way, the dorsal kyphosis will not be misrepresented. The correct positioning is shown in Fig. 9
B) examination during orthotic treatment
b.1 indications
When patients undergo orthotic treatment, a comparison with the previous clinic examination is necesssary to show a worsening of the curve.
b.2 preparation of the patient
See point a.2
b.3 preliminary assessment
See point a.3
b.4 AP view
Since previous examinations have already shown the patient’s clinic condition, except for particular clinic needs underlined by the Orthopaedist, we can perform the examination only in this view due to radioprotection reasons, even if literature is not unanimous. Furthermore, as the interpretation in literature is ambiguous, the patient should not have worn the corset or the orthotic device for at least 12 hours before the X-ray examination, to avoid mistakes deriving from the persistence of the corrective effect of the orthosis itself.
For any other aspects, what described in a.4 also applies here.
C) Pre-operating control
c.1 indications
Literature suggests surgery for curves with Cobb angle greater than 40-45°. If surgery is the decision, a targeted radiology examination must be part of the pre-op practice, which, as to the Conventional Radiology, consists of the X-rays which will be hereafter specified.
c.2 preparation of the patient
See point a.2.
c.3 preliminary assessment
See point a.3.
c.4 AP view
See point a.4.
c.5 Side view
See point a.5.
c.6 Corrective bending of the lumbar curve
This is a normal AP view with patient lateral bent towards the convexity side of the lumbar curve: for instance, in a left lumbar curve, improvement (that is the decrease in the bending angle) will be achieved with a left lateral flexion and vice versa in case of a right-convex curve.
As to the performing techniques, what described in c.4 for AP view also applies here with some specifications explained below.
The patient must not lose the parallelism with the X-ray film during lateral flexion.
Depending on the patient’s habitus, it may not be possible to include both the greater trochanter and the iliac crest opposite to the bending within the dimensions of the FOV connected to the film, but this isn’t a high-priority task. Obviously, the lumbar spine must be completely represented.
In this view, attention must be paid to the positioning of the breast lead shields: if they are not well fixed, they can move, compromising the quality of the images, as shown in Fig. 10.
c.7 prone position (or prone view)
To facilitate the Orthopaedist in the operating planning, an X-ray view adhering as much as possible to the patient’s position on the operating table has been thought.
For this view, the Multi-Potter used in orthostatic position, must lay on horizontal X-ray table (radiographers using a Direct Radiology (DR) system with specific programs must check if they can modify in order to be used in clinostatic position). Adequate pre-shaped supports will be placed on it to allow the thorax, pelvis and lower limbs to lean over them (Fig. 11).
If pre-shaped supports are not available, you can have a similar effect rolling up sheets with an adequate size and putting them at clavicular, sub-mammary and ASIS level. With other available support, you will provide a support elevating lower limbs.
In this way you must ensure a correct expansion of the thorax during the breathing phases and the completely lack of compression of aorta at abdominal level.
The lower limbs sticking out of the Multi-Potter must be supported with polystyrene-like wedges to elevate the forearms.
The forehead will rest on a pillow so that the whole spine can be aligned without any axial rotations (avoiding patient lying on his cheek).
Arms will be bent at 90° angle with hands at head level in the horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 12, Fig. 13, Fig. 14 and Fig. 15.
In female gender patients, lead shields will be placed on the back in front of the segments to be protect. Here their positioning will be much easier than in the orthostasis (Fig. 16, Fig. 17, Fig. 18 and Fig. 19).
The FOV will be considerably reduced due to the structure of the system planned; however it will be wide enough to contain the scoliotic curve.
During the post-processing phase, it is highly advisable to highlight the right and left side with letters and to stick a label suggesting that the patient is in prone position.