The first hospital in the United States to routinely use BoneMRI
Utrecht, September 12, 2024 – Gillette Children’s, a leading pediatric specialty healthcare provider in Minnesota, USA, renowned for its care and research in complex brain, bone, and movement conditions in children, has recently incorporated BoneMRI into its clinical workflow. Gillette is the first hospital in the United States to routinely use this technology in the clinical care of pediatric patients.
Tenner Guillaume, MD, Pediatric Spine Surgeon and Chair of Gillette Children’s Spine Institute says the advantages to the technology are clear:
CT scans are often essential to a comprehensive understanding of our patients’ spines, and this is particularly true in the setting of congenital scoliosis, spondylolysis or for preoperative planning for spine surgery. However, traditional CT scans are associated with very high radiation exposures for our young, developing patients, and this has the potential to increase their lifetime likelihood of developing a neoplasm.
With BoneMRI, we can obtain a synthetic CT image utilizing an MRI scanner, which eliminates radiation exposure altogether. This technology appears to be a game-changer when it comes to maintaining the radiologic principle of As Low As Reasonably Acceptable (ALARA).
Patients with scoliosis, among others, may greatly benefit from this acquisition. Solutions like BoneMRI not only reduce the risks associated with radiation exposure but also streamline the imaging process, providing comprehensive and precise diagnostic information.
“In an effort to be at the vanguard of innovation in the pediatric spine community, we are heavy utilizers of customized 3D models of our patients’ spines. These models allow for detailed preoperative planning and increase intraoperative safety and accuracy in our complex spine surgeries. Historically, a CT scan has been required to create a high-resolution model of the spines upon which we will be operating” notes Dr. Guillaume.
But now we can get these high-resolution models without the use of any radiation whatsoever. BoneMRI is a game-changing technology and was an obvious investment for the Gillette Children’s Spine Institute as we continue to strive to maximize our patients’ safety by leveraging technology
As Gillette continues to implement new technologies, the goal remains clear: to enhance outcomes and deliver exceptional, patient-centered care. For MRIguidance, this partnership embodies the core mission behind BoneMRI’s creation: caring for patients, especially children, and contributing to their better health.
