“Inappropriate” spinal ultrasounds for suspected occult spinal dysraphism
Although spinal ultrasound has an acceptable specificity in predicting surgery, it remains a poor screening test (36% sensitivity). Given that approximately 37% of spinal ultrasounds were inappropriately ordered in this study period, the authors estimate that if physicians followed the Choosing Wisely Guidelines more closely, it would result in an estimated potential cost savings of CAD$1,856,769 over a decade for Canada with minimal surgical impact and a very low risk of missing surgically relevant spinal dysraphism.
Authors
- Adrienne Thompson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7484-4554)
- Isabella Watson
- Brij Karmur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4224-173X)
- Michael B. Keough (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5361-3327)
- Nicholas Sader
- Mandeep S. Tamber
- Jay Riva-Cambrin
- Vivek Mehta
- Harjot Uppal
Institutions
- Mayo Clinic (US)
- University of Alberta (CA)
- University of Calgary (CA)
- Oklahoma City University (US)
- University of Oklahoma Medical Center (US)
- BC Children's Hospital (CA)
- University of Oklahoma (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics
- Published
- 2026-02-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3171/2025.10.peds25213
- Primary Topic
- Spinal Dysraphism and Malformations
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00