Using Radiation-free Ultrasound for Screening Scoliosis Among School Children in Hong Kong to Reduce Unnecessary X-ray Exposure

"Scolioscan, the ultrasound system reported to be reliable and valid for spinal deformity assessment, will be used. The system composes of an ultrasound scanner with a linear probe of 100 mm in width and frequency range of 4-10MHz, a frame structure and a spatial sensor which is attached to the ultrasound probe for spatial data capture. Daily calibration will be performed using a phantom to assure accuracy of spine image formation and subsequent angle measurement.~Subjects will stand on the Scolioscan platform with a standardized posture kept stable with pegs throughout the scanning process.. After adjusting the ultrasound scanner setting, the probe will be steered from L5 to T1 spinous process for scanning.~SPA will be used to determine the ultrasound-based Referral Status through predicting whether the Cobb angle is beyond the referral threshold of ≥20° or not. There are two values for the Referral Status: either for specialist referral or not for specialist referral."