Garcia Kathleen M, Harrison Michael F, Sargsyan Ashot E, Ebert Douglas, Dulchavsky Scott A
Departments of KBRwyle, Henry Ford Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.
Departments of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
J Ultrasound Med. 2018 Apr;37(4):987-999. doi: 10.1002/jum.14438. Epub 2017 Sep 29.
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.
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.
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.
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.
背痛是宇航员在太空飞行期间最常见的病症之一，据推测是由病理解剖学变化引起的。超声（US）是国际空间站上唯一可用的成像方式，但目前尚无用于脊柱结构成像的正式超声检查方案。本研究开发了一种在长期太空飞行期间获取腰椎和颈椎前部区域诊断质量图像的方法。
对7名长期太空飞行的宇航员在飞行前、飞行中和飞行后进行了全面的脊柱超声检查，并与飞行前和飞行后的磁共振成像数据进行了比较。飞行中的扫描是在远程专家远程超声指导下的即时培训后进行的。
新手用户能够以92.5%的成功率获得诊断质量的脊柱图像。在飞行前的超声分析中发现了33项异常或病理发现，在飞行后的超声分析中发现了至少14项新发现或进展。常见发现包括椎间盘脱水、骨赘以及椎间盘高度和角度的定性变化。
超声已被证明在严峻条件下是一种便携式且通用的诊断成像方式。我们证明了超声在国际空间站极端太空环境中评估脊柱完整性和变化方面的潜在作用。应进行进一步研究以证实这种成像技术，并创建一个与长期太空飞行期间飞行中的脊柱状况相关的更大数据库。
