Improving Therapy for Children with Scoliosis through Reducing Ionizing Radiation by Using Alternative Imaging Methods—A Study Protocol

Until now, pediatric patients with scoliosis have been diagnosed, monitored, and treated with numerous independent specialist disciplines, such as pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and general practitioners with different radiological issues. The aim of this project is to reduce radiation and lower perioperative risks by creating a preoperative and follow-up-related standard protocol in close interdisciplinary and targeted cooperation between all the specialist disciplines involved. In line with the holistic examination approach, the associated accompanying diseases and developmental disorders such as dental and neuronal malformations will also be examined. On the one hand, CT-based questions could be replaced with the reconstruction of thin-slice MRI sequences. In addition, it may be possible to use the three-dimensional back scan as an intermediate diagnostic procedure instead of X-rays in the monitoring of severe scoliosis. Insofar as correlations or causalities between scoliosis and occlusal anomalies, early orthodontic intervention could positively benefit the duration of therapy at a later stage.