AUSTIN, Texas — Dell Children's wants to reduce radiation exposure for kids who have to get x-rays.
New imaging technology is making that possible -- and it's the first of its kind in Central Texas for pediatric patients.
Indra Simmons and her family used it for the first time Wednesday to help fix her scoliosis.
Nine-year-old Indra doesn't let the condition stop her.
"Well, I have to wear this brace,” she said. “I have to wear it at night. I have to wear it like, 16 hours out of 24 a day. But, I consider myself to be lucky. Because some girls have to wear it for a lot longer."
She designed her brace to her liking.
"I love Harry Potter a lot,” she said, pointing to the Gryffindor flag on her purple brace.
“Then, there's my dog,” she added, pointing to an Old English Sheepdog.
Indra also gets about three x-rays a year -- something that will continue for the next seven to eight years.
That's where EOS imaging comes in. The machine uses half the radiation of digital x-rays.
Doctor Brian Kaufman said too much radiation can increase cancer risk.
"There were some studies that have been done in the past that have shown rates of breast cancer in girls, in particular who have scoliosis, were markedly higher than the general population," Dr. Kaufman said.
Indra's father, Paul, hopes the brace comes off eventually.
"It's unfortunate that she has to wear this brace as often as she does,” Paul said. “If we can avoid other complications of trying to keep this scoliosis monitored and tracked over the years, I really like the idea of minimizing that harm."
Indra looks on the bright side of her brace.
“You can play a lot of pranks with it,” she said. “Like, if you wear your brace under your clothes then you can get away with knocking on it [and tricking people]."
Her father said she has always been a child that can face a challenge and "just kind-of find her way through it, find her way happy, kind-of no matter what life throws at her."
The EOS imaging system is located at Dell Children's, but patients at Central Texas Pediatric Orthopedics and Seton Brain and Spine have access to it as well.
To schedule an appointment, call Dell Children’s Imaging Department at (512) 324-0140.