Intraoperative elastography and spinal surgery: a systematic review of current and future applications in clinical and preclinical models.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While conventional imaging provides excellent structural detail of the spine, it cannot assess the mechanical properties of spinal tissue in real time. Ultrasound elastography (USE) is an emerging modality that quantifies tissue stiffness, offering a potential solution to this diagnostic gap. This review synthesizes the current evidence for the use of USE in spinal pathology.

Main body

A systematic review of the PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, yielding seven primary studies, three clinical and four preclinical, published between 2015 and 2024. These studies, comprising preclinical and clinical data, demonstrate USE's ability to provide real-time, quantitative feedback. Key applications identified i

SUBMITTER: Dhillon P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12630497 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature