A new spinal imaging system – the first of its kind in the state – is in the final stages of being installed at UNM Carrie Tingley Hospital.
The high-tech machine’s installation coincides with National Scoliosis Awareness Month. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that often occurs during the growth spurt just before puberty, though it also can be caused by conditions like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. The cause of most scoliosis is unknown.
Low-dose 2D and 3D images from the futuristic-looking imaging machine are used for confirming a scoliosis diagnosis, monitoring scoliosis curve progression and planning for surgery, if needed. The new machine will be ready for use later this summer.