On January 26, 2018, Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield unveiled EOS®, the first ultra-low-dose X-ray imaging system in Western Massachusetts. EOS uses Nobel Prize-winning technology created by engineers, orthopaedic surgeons and radiologists to reduce the radiation exposure from X-rays by up to 91 percent compared to traditional X-rays.

Reduced radiation exposure is important because many patients seen at the Springfield Shriners Hospital need multiple X-rays over the course of their treatment, depending upon their medical condition. For example, a child with scoliosis will need to have X-rays every three to six months from time of diagnosis until they finish growing to monitor their curve progression, increasing their risk of developing certain types of cancer later in life.

Reducing exposure to radiation is a top priority of the medical imaging industry, which has resulted in a best practice standard called “ALARA,” meaning that doses should be “as low as reasonably achievable” without sacrificing the high-quality images needed to make medical decisions.

EOS is expected to be used for more than 80 percent of the X-rays currently taken for diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring of pediatric patients with musculoskeletal conditions that include:

• Scoliosis, kyphosis and other spine deformities
• Pelvic deformities
• Hip, knee and ankle problems
• Lower limb deformities
• Shoulder, arm and hand deformities

FULL-SIZE, WHOLE BODY IMAGES

The EOS system captures full-size, whole body images of a standing or seated patient in a single scan. Images are taken from multiple angles at the same time, reducing the number of X-rays and improving the surgeon’s ability to diagnose and plan for surgery based on 3-D views. Frontal and lateral images of any length can be acquired simultaneously with a large reduction in radiation dose and without compromising image quality.

Beyond the safety and quality improvements, EOS is faster than traditional X-ray, taking an image in 20 seconds or less. Because the technology is 100 percent digital, the images are immediately available for review by the doctor during the child’s appointment.

EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY

The Springfield Shriners Hospital is the only hospital in Western Massachusetts with an EOS imaging System. More than $1 million was raised through the hospital’s first-ever capital campaign for its purchase. The acquisition of the EOS system is just one example of how the Springfield Shriners Hospital demonstrates its commitment to quality, safety and patient satisfaction.