MRI-guided dynamic support for correcting adolescent scoliosis
MRI-Guided Dynamic Support System for Scoliosis Correction (MRI-DSS)
This pilot tests whether an MRI-compatible air-padded support with programmable pneumatic control can quickly reduce spinal curvature in 10–16-year-olds with mild to moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Ages | 10 Years to 16 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Chinese University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon) |
| Trial ID | NCT07246122 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective pilot where participants with AIS wear an MRI-compatible dynamic support system made of air padding that can be inflated and adjusted by a programmable pneumatic controller while inside the MRI. Investigators apply stepwise pressure levels and use MRI to guide and document real-time changes in spinal alignment. Cobb angles and other biomechanical parameters are recorded at each pressure setting to quantify immediate correction. The approach aims to produce rapid, quantitative corrections that could inform more personalized bracing strategies.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are 10–16-year-olds with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and Cobb angles between 10° and 25°, with no prior spinal surgery and no contraindications to MRI.
Not a fit: Patients with Cobb angles outside 10–25°, prior spinal surgery, other spinal disorders, MRI contraindications, or who are younger than 10 or older than 16 are unlikely to benefit from this pilot.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a non-surgical method to rapidly reduce spinal curvature and help personalize bracing for adolescents with scoliosis.
How similar studies have performed: Bracing and dynamic support concepts have shown modest benefits in prior work, but MRI-guided pneumatic real-time correction is a novel approach with limited prior clinical evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age: 10-16 years * Diagnosis: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (Cobb angle 10-25°) * No prior spinal surgery or other orthopedic conditions * Able to provide informed consent * Risser sign 0-5 Exclusion Criteria: * Age \<10 or \>16 years * Cobb angle \<10° or \>25° * History of spinal surgery or other spine disorders * Contraindications to MRI
Where this trial is running
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University — Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Raymond Tong, PhD — Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Study coordinator: Raymond Tong, PhD
- Email: kytong@cuhk.edu.hk
- Phone: 39438454
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.