Real-time Ultrasound Assessment of Astronaut Spinal Anatomy and Disorders on the International Space Station
Real-time Ultrasound Assessment of Astronaut Spinal Anatomy and Disorders on the International Space Station
复制标题
DOI：
10.1002/jum.14438
复制
发表时间：
2018-04-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Dulchavsky, Scott A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Garcia, Kathleen M.;Harrison, Michael F.;Dulchavsky, Scott A.
目的：背痛是宇航员在太空飞行中最常见的疾病之一，被认为是由于病理解剖学的改变。超声波（US）是国际空间站上唯一可用的成像方式，但美国还没有正式的脊柱结构成像协议。这项调查开发了一种方法，获得诊断质量的图像的前腰椎和颈椎区域的脊柱在长时间的spaceflight. Methods-全面的脊柱US检查进行了7个长时间的航天宇航员飞行前，在飞行中，飞行后，飞行前和飞行后的磁共振成像数据相比。在飞行中进行扫描后，及时培训的远程专家tele-US guidance.Results-Novice用户能够获得诊断质量的脊柱图像，成功率为92.5%。在飞行前US分析中确定了33个异常或病理发现，在飞行后US分析中确定了至少14个新的发现或进展。常见的发现包括椎间盘干燥，骨赘，和椎间盘高度和角度的定性变化。结论-超声已被证明是一种便携式和多功能的诊断成像方式在严峻的条件下的有效性。我们证明了美国在国际空间站极端太空环境中评估脊柱完整性和改变的潜在作用。应进行进一步的调查，以证实这种成像技术，并建立一个更大的数据库，在飞行中的脊柱条件在长时间的航天飞行。
Objectives-Back pain is one of the most common conditions of astronauts during spaceflight and is hypothesized to be attributed to pathologic anatomic changes. Ultrasound (US) represents the only available imaging modality on the International Space Station, but a formal US protocol for imaging the structures of the spinal column does not exist. This investigation developed a method of acquiring diagnostic-quality images of the anterior lumbar and cervical regions of the spine during long-duration spaceflight.Methods-Comprehensive spinal US examinations were conducted on 7 long-duration spaceflight astronauts before flight, in flight, and after flight and compared to preflight and postflight magnetic resonance imaging data. In-flight scans were conducted after just-in-time training assisted by remote expert tele-US guidance.Results-Novice users were able to obtain diagnostic-quality spinal images with a 92.5% success rate. Thirty-three anomalous or pathologic findings were identified during the preflight US analysis, and at least 14 new findings or progressions were identified during the postflight US analysis. Common findings included disk desiccation, osteophytes, and qualitative changes in the intervertebral disk height and angle.Conclusions-Ultrasound has proven efficacy as a portable and versatile diagnostic imaging modality under austere conditions. We demonstrated a potential role for US to evaluate spinal integrity and alterations in the extreme environment of space on the International Space Station. Further investigations should be performed to corroborate this imaging technique and to create a larger database related to in-flight spinal conditions during long-duration spaceflight.