This will help massively and lead to better outcomes.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a novel app designed to assess scoliosis, a condition impacting spinal curvature. Developed by NSite Medical, the National Scoliosis Clinic, this innovation, known as the Scoliosis Assessment app, has garnered FDA clearance.
Dr. Michael J. Gardner, co-founder and CEO of NSite Medical and a Stanford University School of Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery professor, highlighted the app’s potential in evaluating individuals with scoliosis or those prone to developing the condition.
Scoliosis, characterized by spinal curvature often emerging in adolescence, stands to benefit both children and adults from this cutting-edge technology.
Dr. Gardner elucidated that the software generates a 3D scan of the individual through a mobile device camera. Leveraging this scan, the app analyzes the back surface asymmetry, calculating an Asymmetry Index (AIx), offering a quantitative measure of back asymmetry.
This AIx calculation holds clinical significance, determining the probability of a patient developing scoliosis, marked by a Cobb angle >20 degrees, as revealed in several FDA trials where the app demonstrated high accuracy in detecting scoliosis and estimating Cobb angle.
The app aims to replace conventional methods involving scoliometers and visual assessments conducted by physicians using protractor-like devices or visual examinations, respectively, to measure curvature or identify indicative signs like body asymmetry or spinal curves.
Dr. Gardner stressed the app’s critical role in early, accurate detection, reducing reliance on X-rays and potentially curbing unnecessary surgeries. He emphasized the inadequacies of current scoliosis screening methods, leading to delayed diagnoses, hindering the effectiveness of nonsurgical interventions.
The NSite Scoliosis Assessment Application, utilizing proprietary AI algorithms, seeks to minimize user errors, augment early scoliosis detection, and limit false-positive and negative findings compared to traditional methods.
This advancement is projected to facilitate early interventions, like bracing and physical therapy, pivotal in mitigating spinal curvature progression without necessitating extensive surgeries.
Moreover, the app’s precision in detection and minimized false positives could reduce additional X-ray screenings and limit patient exposure to radiation. Dr. Kevin Huffman, CEO of On the Rocks Climbing Gym and a doctor of osteopathy, hailed the app as groundbreaking, citing its capacity to process complex data in real-time and standardize assessments.
He emphasized the app’s transformational potential in early scoliosis diagnosis, reducing reliance on time-consuming physical exams and complex radiographic analyses.
Dr. Huffman envisioned a shift toward predictive analytics and personalized medicine, expecting the app to optimize care pathways, enhance patient outcomes, and revolutionize scoliosis management.
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