Radiographic Resource Utilization in the Initial Referral and Evaluation of Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

INTRODUCTION: The dangers of radiation exposure in children have been well studied, with assessment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) documented as having the potential for notable patient exposure. The purposes of this study were to evaluate a consecutive series of patients referred to a tertiary care pediatric hospital for AIS and to assess the type and quality of imaging obtained before referral for specialist evaluation.

METHODS: We performed a prospective study of consecutive patients referred over a 6-month period to a pediatric orthopaedic practice at a large, free-standing, urban children's hospital for evaluation of AIS. We assessed prereferral radiographic exposure, evaluating the utilization and adequacy of these radiographs.

RESULTS: Of a total of 131 patients enrolled in the study, 79 had received radiographs before the visit; of these, only 59 patients (75%) brought the previously obtained radiographs to the specialist consultation, and 45 patients (76%) of this subset were found to be adequate for evaluation of AIS. Of the total cohort, 56 patients (43%) required repeat radiographs because of missing or inadequate radiographs.

DISCUSSION: We found a large number of missing or inadequate radiographs, leading to repeat radiation exposure in this cohort. Improvements in the utilization of radiographs before orthopaedic referral could decrease unnecessary patient radiation exposure.