Spine Colorado, part of Durango Orthopedic Associates, began using a new imaging system this month that was previously only available on the Front Range.
The clinic, located at 1 Mercado St., Suite 200, has operated for more than 20 years. EOSedge is its newest technology addition.
EOSedge is an X-ray system that captures simultaneous, full-body frontal and lateral images – but it does more than scan, said Dr. Amber Price, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Spine Colorado.
She said the machine scans more quickly than conventional X-rays and has multipurpose applications.
“It’s really efficient,” she said. “And it’s not just for the spine – it can be used for templating, for hip surgeries, for knee surgeries – all different types of orthopedic surgery.”
According to the EOSedge product guide, the system allows for a “true, global assessment of all alignment factors” and uses standardized imaging to “quickly deliver accurate information throughout the patient’s care pathway and improve the predictability of surgical outcomes.”
EOSedge was developed by EOS Imaging under the ATEC Spine Group and has been used across Europe and North America since 2008.
The system is praised for offering more advanced imaging capabilities than conventional X-ray machines.
EOSedge boasts fast scan time, high-resolution images, 1:1 scale images, and biplanar acquisition – meaning it can capture simultaneous frontal and lateral views of the body to create accurate 3D reconstructions of bones and body shape. It also delivers a lower dose of radiation than traditional X-ray systems.
“It’s really good for young patients who have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis,” said Dr. Ryan Martyn, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Spine Colorado. “For our young patients with scoliosis, it reduces the radiation burden that they receive over their lifetime from having to get repeat X-rays to monitor their condition.”
The system allows patients to be scanned while standing or sitting and can capture natural weight-bearing postures to assess spine, hip and leg alignment – offering a more complete 3D view than traditional X-rays.
Patients at Spine Colorado began using the EOSedge system this month, and Price said feedback has been positive.
“Patients were really excited,” she said. “My favorite quote from a patient was, ‘I feel like I’m riding a spaceship.’”
She said the machine is also available for use by other local orthopedic surgeons needing advanced imaging.
Another benefit, Price said, is the system’s ability to help surgeons better understand why surgeries fail through automatic data collection.
“All of the data can be automatically collected by the actual system, so once you get your X-ray before surgery, we’ll compare it to after surgery, and then in the subsequent years of follow up we’ll be able to see why did one surgery fail versus another surgery, and what can we change in the future in order to prevent this from happening to people,” she said. “All of that information will automatically be gathered and placed into a database, which will really help with future research for patients and improving spine surgery.”
Pat Miles, chairman and CEO of ATEC Spine, which is affiliated with EOS Imaging, praised Spine Colorado adopting the technology.
“Spine Colorado is the kind of partner that shares our vision for the future – one where every patient, regardless of location, has access to cutting-edge technology,” he said. “By bringing EOSedge to Durango, Drs. Martyn and Price demonstrate their unwavering commitment to their community and to excellence in spine surgery. We couldn’t be more proud to be part of their journey and are excited to see what’s ahead for their practice.”
epond@durangoherald.com
